Initial Client Contact

• Author: Thomas E. Bush
• Pages: 26-228

1-26

Chapter 1

Initial Client Contact

§100 “Disabled” — A Term of Art

§110 Determining Disability Under the Regulations and Rulings

§120 Medical-Vocational Guidelines

§130 Social Security Disability and SSI: Nondisability Requirements and Other Differences

§140 Special Disability Programs

§150 Appeal Process

§160 Before Initial Interview

§170 Initial Interview

§180 After Initial Interview — Hearing Stage

§190 After Initial Interview — Below Hearing Stage

§100 “Disabled” — A Term of Art

§101 Regulations and Rulings

§102 Statutory Definition

§103 SSA’s Manuals and Other Instructions

§104 Role of Federal Court Decisions

§105 Acquiescence Rulings

§106 A Nonadversarial Administrative System

§107 Informal Procedures

§108 SSA: A Bureaucracy

§109 Citations

§110 Determining Disability Under the Regulations and Rulings

§111 Diagram: Disability Decision and Sequential Evaluation Process

§112 The Sequential Evaluation Process — Overview

§113 Step 1: Substantial Gainful Activity

§114 Step 2: The Severity Step

§115 Duration Requirement

§116 Step 3: Listing of Impairments

§117 Step 4: Past Relevant Work

§118 Step 5: Other Work

§119 Summary and Exceptions

§120 Medical-Vocational Guidelines

§121 Maximum Residual Functional Capacity

§121.1 Chart: Maximum RFC Possible for Disability Finding

§122 Age

§123 Education

§124 Work Experience

§125 Full or Wide Range of Work

§125.1 Definition of Medium Work From SSR 83-10

§125.2 Definition of Light Work From SSR 83-10

§125.3 Definition of Sedentary Work From SSR 83-10

§126 RFC for Less Than Full Range of Sedentary Work

§126.1 Alternate Sitting and Standing From SSRs 83-12 and 96-9p

1-27 INITIAL CLIENT CONTACT

§127 Nonexertional Limitations

§128 Transferable Work Skills

§129 Medical-Vocational Guidelines as Framework for Decision-Making

§130 Social Security Disability and SSI: Nondisability Requirements and Other Differences

§131 Social Security Disability — Worker’s Insured Status

§132 SSI

§133 Retroactivity of Applications and Waiting Period

§134 Other Differences

§135 Chart: Social Security Disability and SSI Compared

§136 Eligibility of Aliens

§140 Special Disability Programs

§141 Social Security Disability — Disabled Adult Children

§142 Social Security Disability — Widow(er)s and Surviving Divorced Spouses

§142.1 Form: Determining Prescribed Period and Controlling Date for Widow’s Claim

§143 Social Security Disability — Blindness

§144 SSI Blind

§145 SSI Children

§150 Appeal Process

§150.1 Disability Service Improvement (DSI)

§151 Initial and Reconsideration Determination

§152 Hearing

§153 Differences Between State Agency Determinations and Hearing Decisions

§153.1 Charts: State Agency and ALJ Disability Decisions Compared

§154 Appeals Council Review

§155 Federal Court

§156 Diagrams: The Appeal Process and Outcomes 2008 - 2012

§157 Diagram: How Long Does Appeal Process Take?

§158 Good Cause for Late Filing

§160 Before Initial Interview

§161 Office Policy Considerations

§162 One Approach to Dealing With Disability Cases

§163 Telephone Contact

§164 Literature for Prospective Clients

§164.1 Memorandum: Common Questions About Applying for Disability Benefits

§165 Form: Social Security Disability Telephone Intake

§166 Form: Letter to Prospective Client

§167 Form: Claimant Questionnaire

§168 Form: Claimant Psychiatric Questionnaire

§169 Office Organization

§169.1 Databases

§169.2 Paralegals

§170 Initial Interview

§171 Observe the Claimant

§172 Determine Claim Type and Procedural Issues

§173 Use Denial Letters to Determine Why Claim Was Denied

§174 Analyze the Claimant’s Answers

§174.1 Use Interview and Analysis Forms to Evaluate Claimant’s Case

§175 Interview Form

§175.1 Form: Analysis

§176 Look for Problem Areas and Opportunities

§176.1 Onset Date

§176.2 Unsuccessful Work Attempts

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PRACTICE 1-28

§176.3 Working Claimants, Closed Period of Disability and Trial-Work Period

§176.4 Prior Applications

§176.5 Cases Where SSA Misinformation Deters Applying

§176.6 Receipt of Unemployment Compensation Benefits

§176.7 Americans With Disabilities Act Claims

§176.8 Evaluate the Listing of Impairments

§176.9 Past Relevant Work

§176.10 Education

§176.11 SSI Issues: Gifts, In-Kind Support, Loans and Assets

§176.11.1 Form: Sample SSI Cash Loan Agreement

§176.11.2 Form: Sample In-Kind Loan Agreement (Living in the Household of Another)

§176.11.3 Form: Sample In-Kind Loan Agreement With Person Outside the Household (7th and

2nd Circuits Only)

§177 Begin Hearing Preparation at Initial Interview

§177.1 Educate Claimant About Disability Law

§177.2 Put Claimant at Ease About Hearing Process

§177.3 Record Claimant’s Strengths and Weaknesses as a Witness

§177.4 Identify Potential Witnesses

§177.5 Daily Diary

§177.6 List Things to Do

§177.7 Form: Intake Action Sheet

§177.8 Form: Monthly Headache Diary

§178 Necessary Forms

§178.1 Consent Forms

§178.2 SSA Forms

§178.2.1 Form: Appointment of Representative (SSA-1696-U6)

§178.2.2 Form: Request for Hearing (HA-501)

§178.2.3 Form: Disability Report — Appeal (SSA-3441)

§178. 2.4 Form: Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration (SSA-827)

§178.2.5 Form: Consent for Release of Information (SSA-3288)

§178.3 Attorney Fees Contract

§178.3.1 Form: Two-Tiered Fee Agreement

§178.4 Direct Payment of Attorney Fees

§178.4. 1 Form: Registration for Appointed Representative Services and Direct Payment (SSA-1699)

§178.4. 2 Form: Identifying Information for Possible Direct Payment of Authorized Fees (SSA-1695)

§178.4.3 Form: Request for Business Entity Taxpayer Information (SSA-1694)

§178.5 Appointed Representative Services — Online Access to Clients’ Electronic Files

§178.6 Requirement That Appeals Be Filed Online

§178.7 Changing Your Address With SSA

§179 Begin Keeping Time Records

§180 After Initial Interview — Hearing Stage

§181 Form: Letter to Claimant Following Initial Interview — Hearing Stage

§182 Form: Initial Letter to Hearing Office (When Request for Hearing Has Already Been Filed)

§183 Form: Initial Letter to Social Security Office (With Alternative Language — Enclosing Request for Hearing or

Request for Hearing Filed Via Internet)

§184 Form: Letter to Social Security Office Transmitting Form SSA-1695

§190 After Initial Interview — Below Hearing Stage

§191 Form: Letter to Claimant Following Initial Interview — Below Hearing Stage

§192 Form: Initial Letter to SSA — No Appeal Due, Case Below Hearing Stage

§193 Form: Initial Letter to SSA or Request for Reconsideration Filed Via Internet

§194 Form: Claimant’s Consultative Examination Questionnaire

§195 Form: Memorandum to Claimant Re: Completing Function Report