FIND A TOP PERFORMING DISABILITY ADVOCATE IN ATHENS

Looking for a top-rated Social Security disability representative in north Alabama or middle Tennessee?  Consider

THE FORSYTHE FIRM
Social Security Disability Advocates
7027 Old Madison Pike NW
Huntsville, AL 35806
PHONE (256) 799-0297

CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS FIRM

• Approved for Direct Payment of Fees by the Social Security Administration 
• Free case evaluations and initial consultations
• Free telephone consultations
• Contingency Fee Process:  Never pay a fee until you get a favorable decision 
• Experience:  Thousands of SSDI cases handled at the initial and federal appeal level
• States Served:  Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia
• Full service advocacy firm - handling initial applications and appeals/hearings
• Complete Social Security advocacy under one roof
• Track Record:  Well above the national and state averages for approved cases
• Veteran friendly and experienced - handling Social Security claims for veterans

DISABLED VETERANS: ADD $2687 PER MONTH TO YOUR RETIREMENT PACKAGE

ATTENTION RECENTLY DISABLED VETERANS - Don't leave up to $2,687 per month on the table.

Social Security is paying disabled veterans--and this is in addition to your VA benefits.

Many disabled veterans are leaving valuable cash benefits on the table because they don't know about Social Security disability, don't know how to qualify, or have been recently denied and didn't appeal.  Some veterans may not be aware that Social Security benefits do not interfere with or reduce VA benefits.  SSDI is in addition to VA benefits.

The Forsythe Firm is veteran experienced and veteran friendly.  If you are about to leave any branch of the Armed Forces due to a medical or psychological impairment (whether service related or not) - please contact us for important information about getting SSDI benefits.

The Forsythe Firm is not affiliated with Social Security or the US government.  We work for you.  And we will never charge for our services until you win your Social Security disability claim and receive past due payments.

Call for a free case evaluation or telephone consultation.  (256) 799-0297.

Office Locations:
7027 Old Madison Pike NW
Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
"Across from Bridge Street"
Phone (256) 799-0297

725 Cool Springs Blvd.
Suite 600
Franklin, TN 37067 

FIBROMYALGIA

If you search for fibromyalgia before 1981 you won't find it.  1981 is when Dr. Muhammad Yunus defined the disease and named it.  For years, it was considered by doctors to be a bogus disease.  Now, we know better.

Fibromyalgia is an incurable disease resulting in overactive nerve tissues.  It causes chronic pain in the muscles, joints and tendons along with fatigue and sleeplessness and often is associated with depression or anxiety.  Most patients describe a "brain fog" which makes concentration difficult.

If you suffer from fibromyalgia and need to file a Social Security disability claim, I want to share some things that may help you.

First, Social Security requires that fibromyalgia be diagnosed using the diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, using either the 1990 rules or the 2010 rules. The best trained doctor to diagnose and evaluate fibromyalgia is a rheumatologist.  A rheumatologist will be given more weight than a family doctor when your case comes before Social Security.  There are many medical conditions that mimic the symptoms of fibromyalgia.  Your doctor must rule out these other diseases in order to make a definite diagnosis.  You must convince Social Security that you have a "medically determinable impairment" or MDI.  Only your doctor can do this.

Second, you must prove that fibromyalgia symptoms interfere with your ability to perform basic work related activities.  Try to get the rheumatologist to provide you with a written "residual functional capacity" (RFC).  Simply defined, this is a statement about the maximum that you can do when it comes to functions like sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, etc.*  There is a neat form that Social Security likes to use for this.  It's called a "Medical Source Statement," or Form HA-1151. My firm uses a specialized form tailored specifically to symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Third, Social Security will want to see that you are following prescribed treatment to try to get better.  It's important to take the medications prescribed by your doctor.  If you experience side effects with a medication that prevents you from taking it, talk to your doctor about other medicine that you may try.  Failure to follow treatment may cause problems with a Social Security claim.

Social Security's 2012 Ruling on Fibromyalgia 
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HELP WHILE YOU WAIT ON SOCIAL SECURITY

"I need help.  I've filed for Social Security disability months ago.  How can I survive until my case gets settled?"

Unfortunately, it can take months or years to get Social Security disability benefits.  There are some agencies that may be able to help you while you wait on Social Security.  Here are some avenues to explore:
 
FOOD STAMPS:  Contact your county's Department of Human Resources.  In Limestone County it's located at 1007 W. Market Street, Athens, AL 35611.  Phone (256) 216-6380. Website: 
http://dhr.alabama.gov/counties/county_results.aspx?id=Limestone


Mortgage Payments:  Contact "Hardest Hit Alabama" at www.hardesthitalabama.com  or call 1-877-497-8182.

LOW COST MEDICAL CARE (DOCTORS): Click on the link below for a list of low cost clinics to find one near you.

http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinics.taf?_function=list&state=al

UTILITY BILLS OR OTHER NEEDS:   Dial 211 on your phone and tell the operator the type of assistance you need.

HELP WITH SOCIAL SECURITY DISABIILTY:  Contact the Forsythe Firm in Huntsville at (256) 799-0297 or (256) 431-1599. 

The Forsythe Firm is a professional legal firm specializing in Social Security disability and nothing else.  We offer you a FREE consultation and we will never charge for our services until you have been approved and qualified for past due benefits from Social Security.  At that point, Social Security will simply deduct our fee from your back pay.  Call us today if we can be of help.

MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF A HEARING

A great many things will be reviewed at your Social Security disability hearing.  These include your age, education, past work and medical conditions.  Of all these factors, I think the most crucial is the medical record.

Here's what I look for in the medical record:
 
1).  Is it complete?  Does the judge have records from all of your treating sources, such as doctors, hospitals, clinics, counselors--and in some cases--school records?

2)  Are medical records current?  Do they include your most recent doctor's visits, hospital admission, ER visit, etc.?

3).  Are there objective tests, such as an MRI, CT Scan, X-ray, etc. which clearly show the nature and severity of your impairment?

4)  Is there opinion evidence from your doctor?  This would be a letter or form from the doctor stating what your specific restrictions and limitations are and how they would affect the ability to do work-related activities.

5).  Is the medical record consistent with the symptoms you report?

Finally, I need to make the claimant aware of what's expected of him or her during the hearing.  What type of questions will be asked?  What is the best approach to answering questions?  What are some of the pitfalls to avoid?  Is the judge likely to have concerns from reading the medical records?  

Our goal at the hearing is to give the judge, as decision maker, a clear and understandable picture of why the claimant is disabled.  We want to answer any concerns or questions the judge may have.  Having attended hundreds of hearings helps me to prepare for a smooth hearing.  Hopefully, I can help eliminate some of the tension or anxiety the claimant may have when walking into the hearing.

WILL MY HEARING BE HELD HERE IN ATHENS?

Social Security judges hold hearings all over North Alabama.  If you live in Athens or Limestone County, there are 3 possible locations where your hearing may be held.

Florence, AL is the ODAR office or hearing office.  The hearing could be held there.

There is also an office in Huntsville where hearings are scheduled. 

Finally, if your case gets assigned to the Franklin,TN hearing office (which some from our area do) - then your hearing will be held in Decatur, AL.  

So, chances are your hearing will be either in Florence, Huntsville or Decatur.  You will receive a letter telling you the date, time and location of your hearing well in advance.  Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to start.  (If the judge gets ahead of schedule, your hearing may begin early).

WILL SOCIAL SECURITY ACCEPT EVIDENCE FROM A D.O. OR ONLY AN M.D.?

There are fundamentally two types of medical degrees that doctors may get. One is the traditional Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.  The other is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).  

The training required for the MD and DO degrees are very similar.  According to the Mayo Clinic, the doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) may have some training on manual manipulation, such as spinal adjustments or accupuncture, in addition to the traditional medical training.

Social Security regulations recognize both doctors equally as "acceptable medical sources."  20 CFR 404.1513

The regulation has recently been revised to include licensed physician's assistants as "acceptable medical sources."  However, nurse practitioners are not considered acceptable medical sources by Social Security as of this writing.

With many people now getting their medical care from non-traditional providers, it is important to know how seeing someone other than an MD or DO may affect evidence for a potential Social Security disability claim.