Practice Areas

• New York State Workers’ Compensation
• Social Security Disability
• Supplemental Security Income
• Federal Workers’ Compensation
• New York City and State Retirement Disability
• The Doctors Corner - Compensation and Social Security Information for Doctors

Blog

Social Security Disability

• NEW: Social Security Disability benefits for Early Onset Alzheimer’s
• Social Security Disability Benefits -- Attend FREE Seminar in NY
• Social Security Disability claims backlog continues to rise – what does this mean for YOU?
• Three Reasons to Hire an Attorney for your Social Security Disability Claim
• Why no cost-of-living increase in 2010 will hurt seniors

New York Disablity Attorney Blog

• What Makes A Strong Disability Claim?
• Major League Baseball’s Version Of Disability
• Get Disability Benefits Without A Hearing

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Library

Social Security Disability

• Social Securuty Administration Reduces Disability Case Backlog
• Pending Social Security Disability Cases Drops Below 700,000
• Avoid A Hearing And Still Win Your Social Security Disability Case!
• Free Social Security Disability Seminar
• Health Insurance For Disability Recipients - Medicare To The Rescue

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Speeding Up The Hearing Date

Generally speaking, an individual's Social Security Disability claim takes several months to process. If the claim is denied at the first level, it could anywhere from nine to twenty four months to reach an actual hearing. Hiring a lawyer will not speed up the processing of your claim and it will certainly not get you a hearing faster, but there is a way to potentially have your claim heard under extraordinary circumstances.

If a claimant is experiencing extreme financial hardships, they can submit what is known as a "dire needs" letter. Often times claimants face serious financial difficulties in waiting for their hearing. Whether you are facing a foreclosure on your home, or you can no longer afford to pay for medications that you desperately need to treat your condition, submitting a "dire needs" letter explaining your hardships might pursuede an Administrative Law Judge to expedite your case.

It's important to remember that there is no guarantee that your case will be expedited just because you have submitted a "dire needs" letter. Social Security Administrative Law Judges receive hundreds of these letters each month, so they can't possibly grant every claimant's request for an expedited hearing. However, if you are experiencing severe financial hardships and waiting months for your hearing will simply not allow you to pay for food, shelter, clothing and medication, a "dire needs" letter might be the only chance you have in speeding up the time it takes to get a hearing.

Contact Us: Markhoff & Mittman PC 866.205.2415 or info@markhofflaw.com

Serving disabled individuals and their families since 1933. We handle cases througout New York City, Bronx, Brookyln, Queens, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland. We have offices in White Plains, Monsey, Bronx, East Meadow and NYC! Call us or email us today.

The Markhoff & Mittman Team!

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Videos

Social Security Disability:

• SSDB Credits
• SSDB Attorney Fees
• SSDB Credits

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News

• Current Backlog Of Disability Cases Plummets...
  Posted on 3/8/2010
• FREE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY SEMINARS IN NEW YORK...
  Posted on 3/2/2010
• Desperate for help, Social Security Disability recipients bend rules...
  Posted on 2/28/2010
• Worker’s HIV Status Disclosed by Social Security Disability program...
  Posted on 2/28/2010
• Live Disability Webcast - Wednesday, February 24th at 7pm...
  Posted on 2/23/2010

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FAQs

Social Security Disability

• WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO MY DISABILITY HEARING?

• WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO PREPARE FOR MY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY HEARING?

• HOW LONG DOES THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PROCESS TAKE?

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