Social Security Disability Lawyer

"For Social Security disability claimants, their families, and for the network of people involved in the Social Security disability claim process."

Author: Gordon Gates is a solo practitioner in Saco, Maine.

Blawg Related Categories: Disability Law • Solo / Small Firm

Recent Posts from Social Security Disability Lawyer

Client thank you
I received a wonderful thank you note from a client who recently received a fully favorable decision for her Social Security disability claim. With her permission, I share it with you: I can't begin to…
Social Security Disability Blog Roundup - 11/6
This is a roundup of the notable posts from the disability blogs. I use the word notable rather than the word best, because I do not presume to be the arbiter of what is best.…
Reopening a Prior Claim Reminder
Reopening a prior claim is one of the neatest things you can do as a Social Security disabiity lawyer. From the "posted one year ago today" file, here is a reminder to check for prior…
Welcome ALJ Griswold
Administrative Law Judge Kim Griswold has joined the Portland, Maine hearing office. Prior to becoming an ALJ, Judge Griswold was a senior Attorney Adjudicator at the Springfield, Massachusetts ODAR. Judge Griswold brings the number of…
Judges say too many claims are denied initially, sometimes for no logical reason
A recent article in the Buffalo News interviews two Social Security administrative law judges regarding the backlog of disability claims. The article cites several problems contributing to the backlog. For me, the most meaningful problem…
Friday Disability Blog Roundup
The new and notable posts from the disability blogs: Appointed Representative Suite Of Services Rolling Out Tomorrow from Social Security News published by North Carolina attorney Charles Hall Social Security Quality Review Board from the…
Interstitial Cystitis and Social Security Disability
I have a claim coming up for a hearing where one of the claimant's impairments is interstitial cystitis (IC). IC is a chronic bladder disorder characterized by pelvic pain. IC occurs ten times more frequently…
The Social Security Quality Review Board
There is an organization within Social Security called the Quality Review Board, also known internally as the Disability Quality Branch (DQB). In theory, the DQB just randomly samples determinations from DDS decisions to ensure that…
Social Security Disability Blog Roundup - 10/23
The response to the first month of the Blog Roundup has been terrific, and many have been able to discover a disability blog not previously seen. This week's roundup is the most varied one yet…
Combination of Impairments Revisited
One year ago, I posted a short article regarding combination of impairments. It is worth revisiting, as a reminder that Social Security must consider all your impairments when deciding whether or not you are disabled.…