If you’ve applied for Social Security Disability benefits and been denied, you’re not alone. The Social Security Administration denies most initial applications. It’s frustrating. You know you can’t work. Your doctors have told you that you can’t work. But the government says otherwise, often based on a paper review by someone who has never examined you.
A denial is not the end. It’s a step in a process that, handled correctly, often leads to approval. But the appeals process has strict deadlines, specific medical documentation requirements, and procedural rules that catch people off guard. A Social Security disability attorney in Pikeville can navigate that process for you.
The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt has over 30 years of experience representing disabled individuals. Our Pikeville, KY Social Security disability lawyer handles SSDI and SSI claims from initial application through the hearing level and beyond. We offer free consultations and collect no fees unless we win your case.
Attorney P. Heith Reynolds has spent his career representing injured workers and disabled claimants. He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia and has concentrated on workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and personal injury law for more than 30 years. Heith understands the medical and legal standards the SSA uses to evaluate disability claims, and he knows how to present a case that meets those standards.
Attorney Mingkwan Emme Collins has devoted her career to representing injured workers and disabled claimants. She is admitted to the Virginia State Bar and earned her J.D. through the Virginia Law Readers Program after completing her B.A. and M.Ed. at East Tennessee State University. Mingkwan handles Social Security disability cases at the firm and brings focused attention to each claim. In addition to English, she speaks fluent Thai.
Together, Heith and Mingkwan represent Pikeville residents and Pike County claimants who need help with SSDI and SSI applications, denials, and appeals. They understand the specific medical conditions such as musculoskeletal problems from years of physical labor, respiratory disorders, chronic pain, and even mental health conditions that affect disability claimants in eastern Kentucky.
Our firm has helped thousands of disabled clients pursue the benefits they are entitled to receive. We have experience handling claims involving a wide range of qualifying conditions, from back and joint problems to respiratory disorders, cardiovascular conditions, immune system disorders, and mental health impairments including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
We have helped clients recover millions of dollars across all practice areas, and our disability department has a strong history of securing approvals for clients who were initially denied by the SSA.
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“I just wanted to share how thankful I am to my team in the disability department, Jackie, Jessica, and attorney Mingkwan. You guys are the reason I was awarded my disability benefits. I am grateful for your amazing work and how fast my case went compared to others that last year’s. I felt very comfortable and I was kept up to date with everything that was happening with my case. They care about their work and they treated me like a person. They made sure I understood what was going on and answered any of my questions that I had. Again I am very thankful for my team Jackie, Jessica, and attorney Mingkwan for helping me get my disability benefits.” — Samantha Ellis
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Social Security disability benefits exist for people who can no longer work because of a medical condition that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months. The SSA evaluates claims based on whether your condition meets or equals a listed impairment, or whether your residual functional capacity prevents you from performing any substantial gainful activity. Our Pikeville SSD attorneys handle claims involving:
The Social Security Administration uses a five-step evaluation process to determine whether you qualify for disability benefits. Understanding this process helps explain why so many initial applications are denied and why legal representation significantly improves your chances at the hearing level.
Step 1: Are you working? If you’re earning above the substantial gainful activity threshold (which changes annually), you generally don’t qualify. Step 2: Is your condition severe? The SSA evaluates whether your impairment significantly limits your ability to do basic work activities. Step 3: Does your condition meet a listing? The SSA maintains a Blue Book of medical conditions that automatically qualify for benefits if the criteria are met. Step 4: Can you do your past work? The SSA evaluates your residual functional capacity and compares it to the physical and mental demands of your previous jobs. Step 5: Can you do any other work? Considering your age, education, work experience, and functional limitations, the SSA determines whether there is other work in the national economy you can perform.
A Pikeville Social Security disability lawyer understands how each step affects your claim and how to build a case that addresses the SSA’s specific concerns. We work with your treating physicians to obtain detailed medical opinions that support your limitations, and we prepare documentation that speaks directly to the SSA’s evaluation criteria.
The Social Security Administration provides information about the application process and benefit calculations on its website. Kentucky residents can apply online or at their local SSA field office. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services administers related programs that may affect your benefits.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is available to people who have worked and paid into the Social Security system through payroll taxes. Your benefit amount depends on your earnings history. SSDI recipients also become eligible for Medicare after a 24-month waiting period from the date of entitlement.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program for disabled individuals with limited income and resources. SSI does not require a work history. Recipients of SSI in Kentucky are automatically eligible for Medicaid.
Both programs require proof that your medical condition prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
Back benefits, which is the retroactive payment for the months between your disability onset date and your approval, can be substantial. For SSDI claimants, back benefits can cover up to 12 months before the application date. For SSI, back benefits begin from the month after your application. A disability attorney in Pikeville, KY helps ensure your onset date is accurately established, which directly affects the size of your back payment.
If you’ve been denied Social Security disability benefits in Pikeville, KY, or if you need help filing an initial application, we are ready to help. The process can be confusing and discouraging, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
Our consultations are free, and we collect no fees unless you’re approved for benefits. Contact us to speak with a Pikeville Social Security disability attorney who will take the time to understand your medical condition and fight for the benefits you deserve.
“We hired Mr. Hurt to help settle a worker’s comp injury case for my husband. Mark, Bart, and Mary worked tirelessly to resolve his case and reach a settlement we were pleased with. They were always available to answer questions and returned calls in a timely manner.“
