When you’re applying for Social Security disability benefits in Berks County, you need the best Berks County 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 Rising 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 Berks County
Our Bethlehem Law Office services our Berks County clients. 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 Berks County
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 Berks County, Social Security Disability Insurance applications are processed by the Bureau of Disability Determination. If you’re applying for disability benefits, you need a Berks County Social Security disability lawyer who knows the process and knows how to navigate the Bureau of Disability Determination.
While you may have seen advertisements for large national firms, these firms rarely have an actual presence in Berks County. This tends to show in the way these firms handle Social Security Disability cases in Berks County. You need a Berks County Social Security disability lawyer who handles cases in Berks County and has an near Berks County.
Social Security Disability cases in Berks County are generally assigned to the Reading field office at Suite 200, 201 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19601. You can find your local Social Security field office here. Good news though, if you’re working with a Berks County Social Security disability lawyer – it is unlikely you’ll even need to step foot in the local office. We can handle everything for you from the very beginning.
Social Security Disability Hearing in Berks County
If your initial disability application and Request for Reconsideration have 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 Berks County 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 Berks County Social Security disability lawyer at every stage of the process, the hearing stage is particularly important. Generally speaking, there is only one Social Security hearing office that handles Berks County cases: the Elkins Park hearing office located at Suite 250, 8380 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027. (You can find your Social Security hearing office here.) But, depending on where you live, you may be scheduled for a hearing in a satellite hearing office. Berks County cases can be held in the Reading Social Security office at 201 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19601.
Because each hearing office has its own Administrative Law Judges, having a local Berks County Social Security disability lawyer can make the difference in your cases. A Berks County Social Security disability lawyer will have hearings in front of these same judges routinely and as a result, that lawyer will know the judge’s preferences.
Our Berks County Social Security disability lawyer has significant experience with the Elkins Park hearing office and the judges in that office.
Appealing Social Security Disability Decision in Berks County
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 Berks County 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. It can even be different within your state! If you don’t have a Berks County Social Security disability lawyer, you may miss out on some arguments that are specific to your location.
While you may be told that any lawyer can file a Request for Review to the Appeals Council, if you live in Berks County, you should have your Request for Review filed by a Berks County Social Security disability lawyer with offices in Berks County.
File a Civil Action in Berks County
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 live in Berks County and need to file a Civil Action, you need a Berks County Social Security disability lawyer who knows the Federal District Court process. There are three Federal District Courts in Pennsylvania: the Eastern District, the Middle District, and the Western District. Each of these District Courts has their own judges. Each Court and each Judge applies the law differently.
Berks County is located in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Court for the Eastern District is held in Philadelphia, Allentown, Easton and Reading.
Many people are surprised to learn that you don’t only need a Pennsylvania Social Security disability lawyer to file a claim in Federal District Court, you need a lawyer who has specific experience within the proper District Court. Because we are located in Berks County, we have extensive experience handling Social Security disability appeals in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Berks County Locations Served
Our office handles Social Security disability cases all across Berks County, but we specifically serve the following areas:
- Reading
- Douglassville
- Fleetwood
- Wyomissing
- Wernersville
- Mohnton
- Birdsboro
- Blandon
- Shillington
- Kutztown
- Mertztown
- Hamburg
- West Reading
- Boyertown
- Laureldale
- Mohrsville
- Kempton
- Myerstown
- Macungie
- Womelsdorf
- Alburtis
- Richland
- Strausstown
- Lenhartsville
- Robesonia
- Leesport
- West Lawn
- Temple
- Shoemakersville
- Bally
- Auburn
- Rehrersburg
- Bechtelsville
- Topton
- Fredericksburg
- Shartlesville
- Bernville
- Lyons
- Bethel
- Hereford
- Oley
Even if your town is not listed, call us. We handle Social Security disability cases in Berks County whether or not they are listed here.
Contact a Berks County Social Security Disability Lawyer today
Our Berks County Social Security disability lawyer strives to make this process as easy as possible. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation! Call or e-mail us directly.
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.
