Rochester Social Security Attorney
Rochester, NY is a city of approximately 220,000 located just south of Lake Ontario. While Rochester itself is a moderate sized city, the Rochester metropolitan area is the second largest in the state with a population of over a million inhabitants. The city is the county seat of Monroe County, New York.
Originally established in 1811, Rochester officially became a chartered city in 1834. Flour milling was the city’s first major industry, followed by a boom in the nursery business. Consequently Rochester was first known as the Flour City and then as the Flower City. Frederick Douglass first published his anti-slavery newspaper, the North Star, in Rochester in 1847. Women’s rights advocate Susan B. Anthony and labor rights proponent Emma Goldman also called Rochester home. In the 20th century, Xerox Corporation, Eastman-Kodak and Bausch & Lomb were established in the city (and remain headquartered there today), which also became a nexus for the garment industry.
Today, Rochester is home to colleges and universities and is a center of medical and technological development. The University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology, both of which have strong research programs, are located in or very near the city, as are the Institute of Optics, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Monroe Community College, St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, Nazareth College (New York), and St. John Fisher College. The University of Rochester is the city’s major employer.
The Eastman School of Music and the Eastman Theatre draw musicians, musical events, and theater productions to the city, which is home to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Other cultural organizations in the city include the Geva Theatre Center, Garth Fagan Dance, the Rochester Contemporary Art Center, and a number of smaller arts organizations.
The city’s population is almost equally divided between Caucasian and African-American residents. 28% of its population is over the age of 45. 15% of residents over the age of 65 live below the poverty line, as do 38% of the city’s children. 21% of Rochester’s residents who are Social Security beneficiaries are disabled.
Applying for Rochester Social Security Disability Benefits
If you are so severely disabled by your medical condition that you cannot work and if you have suffered from your disability for at least 12 months, or it is expected to last at least 12 months, then you may be able to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Medical requirements for a disability are found in Social Security’s Blue Book. The listings are exacting and must be met precisely in order to qualify as a listing for purposes of disability benefits. If your condition does not meet the listings or if it is not found in the Blue Book, you may still qualify for a medical allowance.
Applying for disability benefits can be both confusing and frustrating. Hiring a Rochester Social Security Disability lawyer to help you gather the information you need, assist you in filling out the paperwork for an initial application or for an appeal, and give you advice can prove invaluable.
Hiring a Rochester Disability Attorney
The first question your Rochester disability lawyer can answer is whether or not you are likely to be considered disabled under Social Security’s rules. Your Rochester Social Security attorney can also give you advice you regarding the type and amount of benefits you may receive, about how to pursue your case, and regarding what medical documents to obtain and from whom. Your Rochester Social Security lawyer can ensure the correct medical records are delivered by your health care providers. Finally, a disability attorney may be able to assist you if you have already filed a claim and have been rejected, by requesting that Social Security reconsider your application.
Many Social Security Disability cases go on to the appeals level. Your Rochester Social Security Disability lawyer can help you negotiate the appeals process, understand the proceedings, give you advice as questions arise, present evidence to the judge, handle witnesses on both sides of your case, and make statements on your behalf.
You may choose to represent yourself when you file a claim for SSDI or SSI. However, it has been shown that applicants who hire a Rochester Social Security attorney are more likely to have their claims approved.
A Rochester Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Monroe County, Genesee County, Orleans County, Ontario County, and Wayne County: Irondequoit, Greece, Gates, Spenceport, Brighton, Pittsford, Fairport, West Walworth, Webster, Brockport, Churchville, Scottsville, Holley, Palmyra, Batavia, Newark, and Albion.
