At Bloom Disability Law, LLC, we pride ourselves on our commitment to helping individuals in Ohio and Pennsylvania navigate the complexities of Social Security Disability benefits. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that our clients receive the support and representation they need to secure the benefits they deserve.
With a focus on providing comprehensive services, we assist our clients with every step of the process, from completing applications to gathering necessary medical records and representation at hearings. Attorney Bloom's background as a former attorney for the Social Security Administration gives us a unique advantage in understanding the intricacies of disability claims and effectively advocating for our clients. Through our personalized approach and attention to detail, we have been able to make a real difference in the lives of those facing challenges due to disabilities.
Our primary goal is to achieve the best result possible, as early in the process as possible. By assisting claimants with applications, we help many clients avoid common pitfalls at the early stages of the process, which results in a large number of approvals at the application stage, within just four to six months of applying. However, the Social Security Administration is also prone to making incorrect decisions. In those cases, we work tirelessly and do not give up until we feel certain that a correct decision was made (or at least that we've done absolutely everything possible to get to one). Recently, the Social Security Administration finally reached final decisions on two such cases where we refused to give up.
One client filed her application on her own in 2015. She retained us in 2016 after she received her second denial. We filed the request for hearing, and represented her at a hearing conducted 2018. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who heard the case denied the claim, so we filed a request for review by the Appeals Council (AC), which reversed the ALJ and remanded the case back to her to hold a new hearing. The same ALJ again denied the claim in 2020, and again we filed a request for review by the AC. This time, the Appeals Council sided with the ALJ, so a complaint was filed in Federal District Court. The District Court sided with our client, and remanded the claim back to the ALJ. Finally, the ALJ held another hearing in 2023 and, following the District Court's orders, sided with our client and approved the claim.
Another client filed her application on her own in 2016 and retained our firm shortly thereafter. The client was denied twice by Disability Determination Services, so we requested a hearing by an Administrative Law Judge. In 2018, the first hearing was held by an ALJ, which denied the claim. We appealed to the Appeals Council which sided with our client and remanded the case back to the ALJ for another hearing. In 2020, the second hearing was held by an ALJ, and the ALJ again denied the claim. Again we requested review by the Appeals Council, which denied the appeal this time. An action commenced in Federal District Court, and the District Court sided with our client and remanded the claim back to the ALJ. Finally, in 2023, the ALJ, following the District Court's mandate, approved the claim.
These cases are very much outliers, and these types of situations are incredibly rare. Instead, the great majority of approvals occur at the application, reconsideration or first Administrative Law Judge hearing levels. However, what these two outlier cases highlight is the importance of having qualified and competent legal counsel – an attorney – represent the claimant throughout the process, and most especially at the hearing stage, in order to properly build the record for the appeal, including by attaining appropriate treating source statements and conducting effective cross-examination of any medical or vocational expert that also appears at the hearing. It is also important to have legal counsel that will not give up until the correct decision is reached.
At Bloom Disability Law, LLC, we understand the importance of compassion, expertise, and persistence when it comes to advocating for our clients. We are committed to providing top-tier legal services and support to those in need and empowering them to achieve successful outcomes in their disability claims. If you or a loved one are in need of assistance with Social Security Disability benefits, don't hesitate to reach out to Bloom Disability Law, LLC. Let us help you navigate the process and work towards a successful resolution.