Social Security/Disability
Click here to fill out our Social Security Disability Case Evaluation Form
Benefit of Attorney Representation
Marasco & Nesselbush, Rhode Island’s premier Social Security Disability (SSI SSDI) law firm, is extremely helpful and successful in obtaining Social Security benefits for claimants with disabilities. National statistics show that claimants with legal representation have a substantially greater likelihood of receiving an award of disability benefits than claimants who proceed without an attorney.
Click Here for a Free Case Evaluation
Applying for Social Security Disability benefits without an attorney can be a difficult, daunting and overwhelming process. A missed deadline may mean that you have to start the process over again. A missed deadline or unfavorable decision after your "date last insured" has expired may mean that you are forever precluded from applying again. Do not let this happen to you. Don’t become a victim of the system.
The skilled lawyers at Marasco & Nesselbush can and will ease your way during the application and appeal processes. Whether you live in RI or MA, we at Marasco & Nesselbush have developed effective strategies to obtain important medical opinion evidence to support your disability claim. When we represent you, we will communicate with your physician(s) to obtain helpful medical and legal evidence of your disability. Over the years, we have developed valuable physician questionnaires to enable your doctor(s) to meaningfully and easily support your claim for SSI or SSDI benefits. We will advise you regarding the application process, we will appeal a denial, if any, we will review your case to determine if you qualify for an expedited decision, we will prepare you and accompany you to your hearing before the Administrative Law Judge and, once approved, our lawyers will continue to advocate for you until you receive your retroactive and monthly benefits. Without Marasco & Nesselbush, you may be unnecessarily denied, your case may take longer than it needs to, or you may not receive all the benefits to which you are legally entitled. Do not let any of these things happen to you. Call us today for a free consultation. We make the difference.
Attorney’s Fees
We charge no fee unless and until we win your case and obtain Social Security Disability benefits for you. When we win, our fee is twenty-five percent (25%) of retroactive benefits. The Social Security Administration will automatically withhold our twenty-five percent (25%) fee, and will send you the remaining seventy-five percent (75%) of your retroactive benefits. You, the claimant, will then begin receiving your full, monthly Social Security Disability check(s) each month, into the future, with absolutely no additional fees to Marasco & Nesselbush.
Our fee is a one-time payment, made automatically by the Social Security Administration, of 25% of your retroactive benefits. There may also be a cost to obtain medical evidence supporting your claim. Costs for obtaining your medical records are generally low and are different from legal fees for doing the legal work on your case. Marasco & Nesselbush always tries to obtain medical evidence for either no cost or for as low a cost to you as possible.
The Process
Introduction
Life for someone living with a disability can be difficult enough. When a person feels unable to work due to a physical or mental impairment and chooses to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, a myriad of medical, psychiatric, psychological, legal, social, cultural and financial forces conspire. Below is information about the process.
To render a disability determination, the Social Security Administration employs a well known five step sequential analysis. Step 1 of the sequential analysis is the question: are you working? If a claimant is working and earning at a level of "substantial gainful activity," s/he is, by definition, not disabled. At Step 2 of the sequential analysis, if the claimant is not working, a decision is then made as to whether the claimant has a "severe impairment." This is essentially a de minimus standard to weed out frivolous claims. At Step 3, a determination is made as to whether the claimant meets or equals in severity a listed impairment. If s/he does, the claimant will be found disabled. After Step 3, but prior to Step 4, a determination as to the claimant’s "residual functional capacity" is made. Once "residual functional capacity" is established, at Step 4 a determination is made as to whether the claimant can return to her/his "past relevant work." If the claimant can return to her/his "past relevant work," unless a GRID rule applies, s/he will be found not disabled. If it is determined at Step 4 that the claimant cannot return to her/his "past relevant work," at Step 5 a determination is made as to whether the claimant retains the "residual functional capacity" to perform any other type of work which exists in significant numbers in the regional or national economies.(See 20 CFR 404.1520).
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Initial
After Social Security personnel complete the application process, the "initial" application is sent to Disability Determination Services (DDS), a state agency under contract with the federal government to make Disability determinations. The DDS claims examiner assembles the claimant’s medical records and any other medical evidence of disability, and the case is sent to a DDS reviewing physician for a disability determination. The claim is then sent back to the local Social Security District Office for the issuance of a Notice of Initial Determination.
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Reconsideration
If denied, the claimant has the right to file a "Request for Reconsideration," at which time the file will be returned to DDS to a new claims examiner for additional development of the medical record, if necessary, and for a second disability determination by the DDS reviewing physicians. The file is then again sent back to the Social Security local District Office for issuance of a "Notice of Reconsideration."
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Hearing
If denied again at the reconsideration level, the claimant has the right to Request a Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Hearings and Appeals. The average delay from the filing of a Request for Hearing to the scheduling of the hearing varies but currently is approximately sixteen (16) to eighteen (18) months at the Providence Office of Hearings and Appeals. At the hearing, the ALJ often employs the services of medical and vocational experts to provide expert opinion evidence as to the claimant’s medical condition, residual functional capacity, and ability to work, including statistical data regarding the existence and incidence of jobs the claimant could perform, despite his/her impairment. After the hearing is held, the average processing time for the issuance of a decision is anywhere from one to six months.
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Appeals Council
If the ALJ issues an Unfavorable Decision, the claimant can file a Request for Review with the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council is located in Falls Church, Virginia and handles Requests for Review of Unfavorable Decisions (at the hearing level) for the entire country. With rare exception, the Request for Review entails a written Memorandum of Law, alleging factual and/or legal errors.
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District Court
If the Appeals Council affirms the ALJ’s Unfavorable Decision, the claimant has the right to file a complaint for relief in the United States District Court (USDC) for the district in which s/he resides.
Helpful Numbers
Rhode Island Social Security Offices
Newport SSA 866-253-5607
Pawtucket SSA866-931-7079
Providence SSA877-335-4113
Warwick SSA866-964-2038
Woonsocket SSA877-229-3542
Massachusetts Social Security Offices
Attleboro SSA888-655-6469
Boston ODAR888-870-7573
Brockton SSA888-717-1524
Cambridge SSA800-772-1213
Lawrence SSA877-669-3127
New Bedford SSA866-964-7413
Taunton SSA 877-505-4546
Worcester SSA866-331-9069
Connecticut Social Security Offices
New Haven SSA866-331-5281
New London SSA866-931-0157
Norwich SSA888-482-3170
Willimantic SSA877-405-0488
Other Helpful Numbers
RI Department of Human Services
DHS Offices by Program
DHS InfoLine: 401-462-5300
DHS Long Term Care Office
Building #55, Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
tel. 462-5182; 462-2400
Newport Regional Family Center
110 Enterprise Center
Middletown, RI 02842
tel. 851-2100 or 1-800-675-9397
fax 851-2105
South County Regional Family Center (Stedman Center)
4808 Tower Hill Rd., Suite G1
Wakefield, RI 02879
tel. 782-4300 or 1-800-862-0222
fax 782-4316
Office of Rehabilitation Services
40 Fountain Street
Providence, RI 02903
tel. 421-7005 ; TTY 421-7016; Spanish 272-8090
Pawtucket DHS
24 Commerce Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
tel. 721-6600 or 1-800-984-8989
fax 721-6659
Providence Regional Family Center
206 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907
tel. 415-8200
RI Veterans Home
480 Metacom Avenue
Bristol, RI 02809
tel. 253-8000 ext. 695
RI Veterans Memorial Cemetary
301 South County Trail
Exeter, Rhode Island 02822
tel. (401) 268-3088
Warwick DHS
195 Buttonwoods Avenue
Warwick, RI 02886
tel. 736-1400
fax 736-1442 or 736-1443
Woonsocket DHS
450 Clinton Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895
tel. 235-6200
fax 235-6237
Please fill out a contact form or call our Rhode Island office at (401) 274-7400 for more information or a free legal consultation with a Social Security Disability lawyer.
The law firm of Marasco & Nesselbush, LLC, represents individuals and families in matters of personal injury (including auto accidents), Social Security Disability, and medical malpractice. Our attorneys serve clients throughout Rhode Island at offices in Providence, Woonsocket, Warwick, and Wakefield. Our firm represents residents of Providence, Kent, Bristol, Newport and Washington Counties, as well as clients in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
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Rhode Island Social Security Disability Attorneys
Social Security/Disability
Click here to fill out our Social Security Disability Case Evaluation Form
Benefit of Attorney Representation
Marasco & Nesselbush, Rhode Island’s premier Social Security Disability (SSI SSDI) law firm, is extremely helpful and successful in obtaining Social Security benefits for claimants with disabilities. National statistics show that claimants with legal representation have a substantially greater likelihood of receiving an award of disability benefits than claimants who proceed without an attorney.
Click Here for a Free Case Evaluation
Applying for Social Security Disability benefits without an attorney can be a difficult, daunting and overwhelming process. A missed deadline may mean that you have to start the process over again. A missed deadline or unfavorable decision after your "date last insured" has expired may mean that you are forever precluded from applying again. Do not let this happen to you. Don’t become a victim of the system.
The skilled lawyers at Marasco & Nesselbush can and will ease your way during the application and appeal processes. Whether you live in RI or MA, we at Marasco & Nesselbush have developed effective strategies to obtain important medical opinion evidence to support your disability claim. When we represent you, we will communicate with your physician(s) to obtain helpful medical and legal evidence of your disability. Over the years, we have developed valuable physician questionnaires to enable your doctor(s) to meaningfully and easily support your claim for SSI or SSDI benefits. We will advise you regarding the application process, we will appeal a denial, if any, we will review your case to determine if you qualify for an expedited decision, we will prepare you and accompany you to your hearing before the Administrative Law Judge and, once approved, our lawyers will continue to advocate for you until you receive your retroactive and monthly benefits. Without Marasco & Nesselbush, you may be unnecessarily denied, your case may take longer than it needs to, or you may not receive all the benefits to which you are legally entitled. Do not let any of these things happen to you. Call us today for a free consultation. We make the difference.
Attorney’s Fees
We charge no fee unless and until we win your case and obtain Social Security Disability benefits for you. When we win, our fee is twenty-five percent (25%) of retroactive benefits. The Social Security Administration will automatically withhold our twenty-five percent (25%) fee, and will send you the remaining seventy-five percent (75%) of your retroactive benefits. You, the claimant, will then begin receiving your full, monthly Social Security Disability check(s) each month, into the future, with absolutely no additional fees to Marasco & Nesselbush.
Our fee is a one-time payment, made automatically by the Social Security Administration, of 25% of your retroactive benefits. There may also be a cost to obtain medical evidence supporting your claim. Costs for obtaining your medical records are generally low and are different from legal fees for doing the legal work on your case. Marasco & Nesselbush always tries to obtain medical evidence for either no cost or for as low a cost to you as possible.
The Process
Introduction
Life for someone living with a disability can be difficult enough. When a person feels unable to work due to a physical or mental impairment and chooses to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, a myriad of medical, psychiatric, psychological, legal, social, cultural and financial forces conspire. Below is information about the process.
To render a disability determination, the Social Security Administration employs a well known five step sequential analysis. Step 1 of the sequential analysis is the question: are you working? If a claimant is working and earning at a level of "substantial gainful activity," s/he is, by definition, not disabled. At Step 2 of the sequential analysis, if the claimant is not working, a decision is then made as to whether the claimant has a "severe impairment." This is essentially a de minimus standard to weed out frivolous claims. At Step 3, a determination is made as to whether the claimant meets or equals in severity a listed impairment. If s/he does, the claimant will be found disabled. After Step 3, but prior to Step 4, a determination as to the claimant’s "residual functional capacity" is made. Once "residual functional capacity" is established, at Step 4 a determination is made as to whether the claimant can return to her/his "past relevant work." If the claimant can return to her/his "past relevant work," unless a GRID rule applies, s/he will be found not disabled. If it is determined at Step 4 that the claimant cannot return to her/his "past relevant work," at Step 5 a determination is made as to whether the claimant retains the "residual functional capacity" to perform any other type of work which exists in significant numbers in the regional or national economies.(See 20 CFR 404.1520).
▲ top
Initial
After Social Security personnel complete the application process, the "initial" application is sent to Disability Determination Services (DDS), a state agency under contract with the federal government to make Disability determinations. The DDS claims examiner assembles the claimant’s medical records and any other medical evidence of disability, and the case is sent to a DDS reviewing physician for a disability determination. The claim is then sent back to the local Social Security District Office for the issuance of a Notice of Initial Determination.
▲ top
Reconsideration
If denied, the claimant has the right to file a "Request for Reconsideration," at which time the file will be returned to DDS to a new claims examiner for additional development of the medical record, if necessary, and for a second disability determination by the DDS reviewing physicians. The file is then again sent back to the Social Security local District Office for issuance of a "Notice of Reconsideration."
▲ top
Hearing
If denied again at the reconsideration level, the claimant has the right to Request a Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Hearings and Appeals. The average delay from the filing of a Request for Hearing to the scheduling of the hearing varies but currently is approximately sixteen (16) to eighteen (18) months at the Providence Office of Hearings and Appeals. At the hearing, the ALJ often employs the services of medical and vocational experts to provide expert opinion evidence as to the claimant’s medical condition, residual functional capacity, and ability to work, including statistical data regarding the existence and incidence of jobs the claimant could perform, despite his/her impairment. After the hearing is held, the average processing time for the issuance of a decision is anywhere from one to six months.
▲ top
Appeals Council
If the ALJ issues an Unfavorable Decision, the claimant can file a Request for Review with the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council is located in Falls Church, Virginia and handles Requests for Review of Unfavorable Decisions (at the hearing level) for the entire country. With rare exception, the Request for Review entails a written Memorandum of Law, alleging factual and/or legal errors.
▲ top
District Court
If the Appeals Council affirms the ALJ’s Unfavorable Decision, the claimant has the right to file a complaint for relief in the United States District Court (USDC) for the district in which s/he resides.
Helpful Numbers
Rhode Island Social Security Offices
Massachusetts Social Security Offices
Connecticut Social Security Offices
Other Helpful Numbers
RI Department of Human Services
DHS Offices by Program
DHS InfoLine: 401-462-5300
DHS Long Term Care Office
Building #55, Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
tel. 462-5182; 462-2400
Newport Regional Family Center
110 Enterprise Center
Middletown, RI 02842
tel. 851-2100 or 1-800-675-9397
fax 851-2105
South County Regional Family Center (Stedman Center)
4808 Tower Hill Rd., Suite G1
Wakefield, RI 02879
tel. 782-4300 or 1-800-862-0222
fax 782-4316
Office of Rehabilitation Services
40 Fountain Street
Providence, RI 02903
tel. 421-7005 ; TTY 421-7016; Spanish 272-8090
Pawtucket DHS
24 Commerce Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
tel. 721-6600 or 1-800-984-8989
fax 721-6659
Providence Regional Family Center
206 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907
tel. 415-8200
RI Veterans Home
480 Metacom Avenue
Bristol, RI 02809
tel. 253-8000 ext. 695
RI Veterans Memorial Cemetary
301 South County Trail
Exeter, Rhode Island 02822
tel. (401) 268-3088
Warwick DHS
195 Buttonwoods Avenue
Warwick, RI 02886
tel. 736-1400
fax 736-1442 or 736-1443
Woonsocket DHS
450 Clinton Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895
tel. 235-6200
fax 235-6237
Please fill out a contact form or call our Rhode Island office at (401) 274-7400 for more information or a free legal consultation with a Social Security Disability lawyer.
The law firm of Marasco & Nesselbush, LLC, represents individuals and families in matters of personal injury (including auto accidents), Social Security Disability, and medical malpractice. Our attorneys serve clients throughout Rhode Island at offices in Providence, Woonsocket, Warwick, and Wakefield. Our firm represents residents of Providence, Kent, Bristol, Newport and Washington Counties, as well as clients in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
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- Former Client