When you’re applying for Social Security disability benefits in Maryland, you need the best Maryland Social Security disability lawyer you can find. A lot of lawyers say they’re the best, but we have the awards and reviews to back it up. Attorney Patrick J. Best has not only been named a Super Lawyer Risking Star by Philadelphia Magazine, he is the author of The Essential Social Security Disability Survival Guide, and the host of the YouTube show “Social Security Disability with Patrick J. Best, Esq.” Need we say more?
Social Security Disability in Maryland
With two offices in Maryland, we are close to you no matter where you live. But before you even come into our office, we have free resources to help you get the process started.
First, Attorney Best hosts the ARM Lawyers YouTube show “Social Security Disability with Patrick J. Best, Esq.” in which he answers common questions from clients. This is a great starting point for many people. We address many of the common questions about the Social Security disability process in these videos.
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Second, Attorney Best offers his book, “The Essential Social Security Disability Survival Guide“, for FREE, just by requesting a copy. As part of the ARM Yourself With Knowledge series, this guide aims to help you navigate the process of filing for Social Security disability benefits from application through appeal.
If you would like to discuss your personal situation or if we didn’t answer your specific questions in our show, just give us a call and we’d be happy to discuss your case. Our consultations are completely free so you have nothing to lose. If you’d prefer to e-mail us, just click here for a free consultation.
Social Security Disability Insurance in Maryland
The SSDI program pays benefits to workers who have disabilities that are severe enough to impair them from working. This program is separate and distinct from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Although there are some similarities between the programs. The SSDI program functions like an insurance program. Workers pay “premiums” in the form of taxes withheld in their paychecks.
In Maryland, Social Security Disability Insurance applications are processed by Maryland Disability Determination Services. If you’re applying for disability benefits, you need a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer who knows the process and knows how to navigate Maryland Disability Determination Services.
While you may have seen advertisements for large national firms, these firms rarely have an actual presence in Maryland. This tends to show in the way these firms handle Social Security Disability cases in Maryland. You need a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer who handles cases in Maryland and has offices in Maryland.
SSDI benefits can greatly affect your quality of life. Our Maryland Social Security disability attorney knows how important your case is, and knows how important the benefits would be. Whether you’re applying for SSDI or appealing a denial of SSDI, we can help.
Social Security Disability Process in Maryland
The Social Security disability process in Maryland starts with applying for SSDI. If your application is denied, you are afforded a series of appeals. We discuss the Social Security disability process in detail here, but we will outline the process below.
Applying for Social Security Disability in Maryland
We typically recommend that you file your application for disability benefits in MD with a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer who knows the process. Too many times, people who file the application on their own inadvertently include incorrect information. Sometimes, phrasing things the wrong way can cause you to lose your claim!
It’s always better to speak with a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer first to make sure the application is completed properly. Moreover, your application will be processed at a local, Maryland field office. A Maryland Social Security disability lawyer will work with these field office routinely and will be familiar with each field office’s individual practices.
Filing for Reconsideration in Maryland
If your Social Security disability application has been denied, you will need to file a Request for Reconsideration. If your application has been denied, you should contact a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer who is familiar with the reconsideration process.
Much like the Social Security disability application, the Reconsideration will be processed at a local, Maryland field office. A Maryland Social Security disability lawyer works with these field office routinely and will be familiar with each field office’s individual practices.
Social Security Disability Hearing in Maryland
If your Request for Reconsideration has been denied, you will need to file a Request for Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge. The hearing is one of the most important parts of the Social Security disability process. To start, it has one of the highest probabilities of success if you have the right Maryland Social Security disability lawyer. Moreover, the Social Security disability hearing process is one of the last opportunities for you to submit evidence in support of your claim. While you can appeal the decision after the hearing, you may not be able to add evidence. If you do not present your case properly at the hearing you can destroy your claim!
While it’s important to have a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer at every stage of the process, the hearing stage is particularly important. There are only a handful of Social Security hearing offices in Maryland. Each of these Maryland hearing offices has their own Administrative Law Judges. Since a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer has hearings in front of these judges routinely, that lawyer will know the judge’s preferences.
If you are located in Maryland, you may be assigned to any of the following hearing offices:
- Baltimore: The Baltimore Hearing office is located at The Symphony Center, Room 300, 1010 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201 and services the following field offices: Abingdon, Annapolis, Baltimore (Downtown), Baltimore (Glen Burnie), Baltimore (Northeast), Baltimore (Rossville), Baltimore (Wabash), Baltimore (West), Columbia, Elkton, Frederick, Hagerstown, Owings Mills, Towson, Westminster, Winchester.
- Washington, DC: The Washington DC Hearing office is located at 3rd Floor, 1227 25th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037 and services the following field offices: Camp Springs, Greenbelt, Rockville, Silver Spring.
You’d be surprised, but a lawyer’s relationship with a judge is an important part of the process. A lawyer unfamiliar with a particular judge may not know the best way to approach your case.
If your lawyer doesn’t have offices in Maryland, your lawyer does not likely practice in Maryland routinely.
Appealing Social Security Disability Decision in Maryland
If you are denied benefits after a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge, you will need to appeal the decision to the Appeals Council. During the Appeals Council process, it is important to have a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer on your side. Many people are surprised to learn that while the Social Security Act is a federal law, it can be applied differently from state to state. If you don’t have a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer, you may miss out on some arguments that are Maryland specific.
While you may be told that any lawyer can file a Request for Review to the Appeals Council, if you live in Maryland, you should have your Request for Review filed by a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer with offices in Maryland.
File a Civil Action in Maryland
If your Request for Review is denied by the Appeals Council, you are officially out of appeals within the Social Security Administration. Your sole remaining remedy is to file a Civil Action in Federal District Court. Many lawyers who handle Social Security disability cases do not handle Federal District Court cases.
If you need to file a Civil Action in Maryland, you need a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer who knows the Federal District Court process. There are two divisions of the Maryland Federal District Court: the Baltimore Division and the Greenbelt Division. Each of these divisions has their own judges. Each Court and each Judge applies the law differently.
Many people are surprised to learn that you don’t only need a Maryland Social Security disability lawyer to file a claim in Federal District Court, you need a lawyer who has specific experience within the Maryland District Court.
Maryland Counties Served
We handle Social Security disability cases throughout Maryland. Some of the common counties were serve are as follows:
- Anne Arundel County
- Baltimore City
- Baltimore County
- Calvert County
- Caroline County
- Carroll County
- Cecil County
- Charles County
- Frederick County
- Harford County
- Howard County
- Kent County
- Montgomery County
- Prince George’s County
- Queen Anne’s County
- St. Mary’s County
- Talbot County
- Washington County
If your county is not listed, call us. While these are the counties we typically serve, we’ve handled cases across the state upon request.
Contact a Maryland Social Security Disability Lawyer today
Our Social Security disability attorneys strive to make this process as easy as possible. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation! Call or reach out to your closest Maryland office:
The best part is that we can start the whole process over the phone or by video conference so you don’t even need to come into the office! We make everything as easy as possible for you from start to finish. Call us today.
