How will Atkins & Associates Help?

When You Can’t Work, Atkins & Associates Team of Social Security Disability and Long Term Disability Professionals Work for You!

Social Security: The Social Security disability requirements are complex and the process can be lengthy.  Working through the administrative levels of appeal of the Social Security Administration to qualify for the disability benefits that will help you through this tough time can be confusing and frustrating. Government statistics indicate that Social Security disability claimants who are represented by a disability attorney at the hearing level are more likely to receive disability benefits than claimants who are not represented. Our thorough understanding of Social Security law and the entitlement process will enable us to obtain benefits for you more successfully, more conveniently, and more quickly than you could on your own. Atkins & Associates will accomplish the following:

• Determine what benefits you are eligible for and whether you are likely to be considered “disabled” under Social Security rules and regulations.
• Complete all the necessary forms and paperwork.
• Contact your medical providers and obtain copies of your records and request individualized reports that address your functional limitations and your disabilities in relation to Social Security’s disability categories.
• Arrange for additional medical exams or vocational evaluations, as necessary.
• Request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge and prepare you and your case for the hearing.
• Represent you at your hearing, present evidence on your behalf and question any medical or vocational expert witnesses who are called to testify.
• Reopen (if possible) your old applications for benefits so that you will be entitled to the largest possible lump sum payment of past due benefits, and review Social Security’s benefit calculations to insure that you are properly paid.
• Continue to appeal  your case through all administrative levels of appeal, and into federal court if we deem it necessary.
• Prepare the federal court complaint, briefs, motions and attend all hearings and arguments.

Long Term Disability:  In the Long Term Disability arena, unfortunately insurance companies are notorious for aggressively managing claims to deny benefits. The disability claim process would be difficult enough if you were healthy, but it is much more difficult when you are dealing with a disability.  Atkins & Associates will accomplish the following:

• Analyze and dissect your policy and look at the definitions that apply.
• Analyze the contractual language in relationship to the facts of the particular case and determine the various arguments that might be made regarding how the policy should be interpreted with consideration of the policy language, the facts, case law.  Once all the permeations are understood, we will make an informed decision on how to effectively proceed on your claim.
• Complete all the necessary forms and paperwork.
• Contact your medical providers and obtain copies of your records and request individualized reports that address your functional limitations and your disabilities in relation to the policy definition of disability.
• Arrange for additional medical exams or vocational evaluations, as necessary.
• Request any appeals if your claim is  denied or terminated.
• Prepare the administrative appeals and the arguments for payment of benefits.
• File a civil action as we deem necessary and represent you in your litigation to recover your benefits.
• Prepare the federal court complaint, planning reports, discovery, briefs, motions and attend all conferences, mediations, depositions, hearings and arguments.

Of course, the facts and circumstances of each individual case vary and our firm will take only those actions we deem appropriate to your case, circumstances, financial resources and contract.