Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits offer essential financial support for individuals unable to work due to a disability, helping to cover living expenses and medical costs. The application process, however, demands comprehensive documentation and strict adherence to deadlines, making professional assistance invaluable.
Having a dedicated Fort Collins personal injury lawyer from Boesen Law can significantly enhance your chances of a successful SSD application. We ensure all necessary paperwork is meticulously prepared and submitted on time, and our decades of experience provide you with the best opportunity to secure the benefits you need.
Reach out to our law firm for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call our personal injury lawyers in the state of Colorado at (303) 999-9999 or contact us online.
How a Fort Collins Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help You
At Boesen Law, we offer comprehensive support to help you navigate the SSD system in Fort Collins effectively. This includes:
- Initial application assistance: We ensure all paperwork is complete and deadlines are met, preventing unnecessary delays and setting a strong foundation for your application.
- Handling denials and appeals: Our team reviews denial reasons and file appeals with comprehensive evidence, strengthening your case for a successful outcome.
- Representation in hearings: We advocate for you before administrative law judges, presenting a compelling case to maximize your approval chances.
Partnering with an experienced lawyer from our team can greatly enhance your likelihood of success. We’re committed to guiding you through each step and offering personalized guidance and support. Trust Boesen Law to be your advocate in securing the financial assistance you need.
How to Win a Disability Case – An Experienced Attorney at Boesen Law is Ready to Help
Winning a disability case hinges on effectively demonstrating how your condition prevents you from performing essential job-related tasks.
We understand the importance of building a compelling case that clearly outlines these limitations: for instance, if a disability causes chronic pain or severe fatigue, it may hinder your ability to concentrate, stand for extended periods, or lift heavy objects. By illustrating your condition’s impact on daily work activities, we can craft a compelling case.
Additionally, to substantiate our claim for benefits, we need to use comprehensive documentation. This includes detailed medical records, doctors’ notes, and diagnostic tests, all of which provide the necessary evidence to support your case.
Our team at Boesen Law excels in gathering and organizing this documentation, ensuring it aligns with your narrative. By working with us, you benefit from our expertise in framing your case effectively as per the SSD requirements, increasing the likelihood of approval.
Who Qualifies for Social Security Disability in Fort Collins?
Meeting the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability is a legal test, not a medical one. At Boesen Law, we help you prove your eligibility by going far beyond simply submitting medical records.
To qualify for SSD, you must demonstrate that:
- You have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment
- The condition is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death
- You are unable to perform your past work or adjust to other work
- You have enough work credits based on age and employment history
This sounds straightforward, but in practice, SSA denies claims because the evidence doesn’t clearly connect your condition to specific functional limitations. That’s where we step in.
We start by reviewing your full work history to determine if you have sufficient quarters of coverage. Then we examine how your condition limits your capacity for full-time, sustained work. SSA needs to see that you cannot perform sedentary or light-duty jobs—not just that you can’t go back to your old job.
We work directly with your treating providers to obtain detailed, legally focused medical statements that address specific functional limitations: how long you can sit, whether you can maintain concentration, or how often you would need to miss work. These are the details that move a case from “borderline” to “approved.”
Common Conditions That Qualify for SSD Benefits
A wide range of conditions qualify for SSD benefits, including:
- Physical disabilities: Chronic illnesses, severe injuries, and mobility impairments that limit daily functioning.
- Mental health disorders: Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other psychiatric conditions that impact the ability to work.
- Neurological disorders: Epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, which can severely affect daily life.
Professional help in documenting these conditions is crucial for a successful claim. Our team at Boesen Law can assist in compiling comprehensive medical evidence to support your application.
How Hard Is It to Get Disability in Colorado?
Qualifying for SSD benefits in Colorado presents several challenges, with high denial rates for initial applications. According to SSA data from 2012 through 2021, the final award rate for disabled worker applicants averaged only 30% nationwide. At the initial claims level, just 20% to 21% of applicants were approved.
Common reasons for denials include incomplete applications and lack of medical evidence. At Boesen Law, our attorneys can help avoid denials by ensuring your application is thorough and well-documented.
How to Appeal a Denied SSD Claim in Fort Collins
A denial from SSA is common, but not final. If your claim was denied, the appeals process gives you a second chance to present your case—but it must be done correctly. At Boesen Law, our SSD lawyers do more than just resubmit paperwork. We rebuild your case from the ground up.
Here’s how we handle each stage of the appeal:
- Request for Reconsideration: We review the denial letter line by line and identify exactly what was missing. We often see that the SSA misunderstood the medical evidence or failed to consider how multiple impairments interact. We gather additional records, update your treatment history, and submit a more targeted, comprehensive claim.
- Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Hearing: This is where most cases are won. We prepare you for the hearing with a detailed review of your testimony. We also develop a legal theory that directly addresses SSA’s five-step sequential evaluation and present evidence that supports each element.
- Vocational expert cross-examination: ALJs often rely on vocational experts to say whether you can do any job in the national economy. We’re prepared to cross-examine these experts with facts from your case to show why those jobs are not realistic for someone with your impairments.
- Post-hearing support: If the hearing decision is unfavorable, we review your file for legal error and prepare a written brief for the Appeals Council. If needed, we continue into federal court litigation.
At every level, our team ensures your appeal is supported by objective medical evidence, relevant legal arguments, and a clear narrative that connects your symptoms to real-world work limitations. You don’t get a second chance to fix a weak record later, so we do it right from the start.
The Social Security Disability Application Process – What You Need to Know
We guide our clients through the application process using a strategy that eliminates guesswork and avoids the most common reasons for denial.
- Initial case evaluation: Before you file, we conduct a full review of your work history, earnings records, and medical timeline. This allows us to flag potential issues such as insufficient work credits, overlapping workers’ comp, or medical gaps that can undermine your claim.
- Preparing the application: We complete all forms on your behalf using precise language. We avoid vague symptom descriptions and instead provide documented functional limitations that directly address SSA’s residual functional capacity criteria.
- Evidence collection: SSA doesn’t just want to know you’re sick. They want proof that your condition prevents work. We coordinate with your doctors to obtain detailed medical source statements and RFC assessments that speak to SSA’s criteria, not just clinical observations.
- Claim monitoring: After filing, we monitor deadlines, handle follow-ups, and respond to SSA requests. If SSA schedules you for a consultative exam, we prepare you for what to expect and how to accurately communicate your symptoms without minimizing or exaggerating.
- Ongoing strategy: We don’t wait for a denial to start building the next step. We continuously evaluate your case as it progresses, so that if a denial comes, your appeal is already one step ahead.
Filing on your own increases the risk of submitting incomplete or poorly organized documentation, which is one of the top reasons claims are denied. At Boesen Law, we make sure your initial application is built with the precision and legal strength typically reserved for appeals, giving you the strongest chance of getting approved early.
How SSD and Workers’ Compensation May Interact
SSD benefits and workers’ compensation both provide financial support for individuals unable to work due to disability or injury. However, receiving workers’ compensation may reduce your SSD benefits, as Social Security limits the total combined benefits to 80% of your average current earnings.
It’s important to report any workers’ compensation to the SSA to ensure accurate benefit calculations and avoid overpayments. In cases involving both SSD and workers’ compensation, our Fort Collins workers’ compensation lawyers can provide expert guidance to optimize your benefits.
Contact a Fort Collins Social Security Disability Lawyer Today
For those seeking SSD benefits, Boesen Law is committed to providing personalized service and leveraging our expertise to achieve successful outcomes. Our case results showcase our track record of securing hundreds of millions in compensation and settlements, demonstrating our dedication to clients’ success.
Plus, we don’t charge any fees unless we win your case. To schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys, contact us today.
Reach out to our law firm for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call our personal injury lawyers in the state of Colorado at (303) 999-9999 or contact us online.
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