Posted on

SSI Lawyer in California with GCWC

Workers’ Comp Center Near Roseville

SSI Lawyer in California with GCWC

If you need an SSI or Social Security lawyer in California look to the professionals at Gold Country Workers’ Comp Center. Our attorneys know the ins and outs of Social Security Disability claims. we also have a deep understanding of navigating the laws of the benefits unique to California residents. In the state of California, for example, there is a law that deducts a small portion of your paycheck. This deduction is deposited into a social disability fund, to which is accessed to pay benefits to you if you medically cannot perform your regular work.

Hiring an SSI or Social Security lawyer in California will give you insight into which programs and services work best for your circumstances. Each program has pros, cons, and benefits, and sometimes there’s a possibility to qualify for more than one at a time.

Outside of California specific laws and programs, SSI and SSD are available to any citizen or legal resident who can prove they qualify or meet the needs to activate this benefit. If you have questions about whether you qualify for benefits, you should contact an SSI Lawyer in Sacramento as soon as possible. SSI lawyers do not charge an upfront fee, and may even work pro bono. It is in your best interest to seek one out if you intend to seek SSI or SSD benefits.

Qualifying for SSI benefits is not easy and has a strict vetting process. Being diagnosed with a serous illness or medical condition itself isn’t cause for disability, the courts want to see how the illness or injury has genuinely prevented you from being able to work. This can mean a myriad of stress-inducing questions and forms to fill out, which is why having a lawyer by your side is not only advantageous but a great support system.

Attorneys Kim LaValley and Kyle Adamson of Gold Country Workers’ Comp Center have worked for many years on behalf of their clients pursuing Social Security benefits and have an excellent record in winning their cases. They have received praise for their work from many specialists in the field, including witnesses called by the government to testify against their clients. Please call us for a consultation at…

530-362-7188.

877-233-8399.

Related: Social Security law firm – GCWC
Follow us: Facebook | LinkedIn

Posted on

Supplemental Security Income

Disability law

If you are considering applying for Supplemental Security Income or filing a Social Security Disability claim through the Social Security Administration, here’s a few things you need to be aware of. Most US citizens qualify for a disability program if they meet certain requirements. For one thing, Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB), you must earn enough work credits to qualify and be expected to be out of work for twelve months or more  because of a medical condition that prevents you from working any job. Now, for SSA to determine if your conditions are considered a disability, there are a variety of different forms and documentation you need to provide. This is the case for both DIB and for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The only difference between the two, is that for a disabled claimant to qualify for SSI, you have to be under a certain income level or that you have not worked enough quarters to qualify for the better DIB program.

For some people, this could be the only program they qualify for. For example, even before someone becomes disabled, they could have stopped working for various reasons. But SSA doesn’t just count wages as a valid kind of income. Monetary assistance, other than government provided such as food stamps, inheritance, spouse’s income, and more could render a claimant ineligible. This is why it’s also wise to be wary of leaving work while not disabled, since down the line you never know if you too will become disabled and need to apply for SSI or for DIB.  Leaving work upon medical advice of a doctor is a very helpful piece of evidence in support of a disability claim.

Once you provide the necessary documents to Social Security, which could include medical records, list of medications, present or prior marriage information, amongst other things, they may ask you for additional medical evaluations paid for by them so they can get a second opinion.  The SSA might also send you various forms and questionnaires to fill out which could give them very valuable perspective on how your conditions affect you day-to-day.

A perspective:  the paperwork is not a job application—For example, don’t describe yourself as the “manager” of a business or a department if you are just the senior person in the business or department.  “Managers” have various skills that could make you employable in other contexts, meaning you are not disabled.

The process of applying for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability (DIB) can be long and arduous, and it may even be escalated to the hearing level. While you might think that you should call an Attorney as a last resort (after you’ve been denied several times, for example), it’s almost always wise to have them be involved and familiarized with your claim from the very beginning. It could bring validity to the case as well as ensure you will get the medical evidence you need and everything else done correctly and on time.

There’s no up-front cost to you and fees are a fixed percentage only contingent on a successful outcome of the case, so you shouldn’t delay calling an Attorney to get assistance on how to move forward with a case. Call the lawyers at Gold Country Workers’ Comp Center for a free consultation at 530-362-7188.

530-362-7188.
877-233-8399.
Related: Social Security law firm – GCWC
Follow us: Facebook | LinkedIn

Posted on

Who is liable if you’re injured while working at home

California Workers Compensation Lawyer

While working from home is a not a new idea, advancements in technology and a move towards a more globalized economy have led to an increase in the demand for workers to be able to work remotely from home. In the digital age in which we live in, e-mail, video conferencing, and remote access have made it possible for people to work from just about anywhere.

There are many advantages to “telecommuting” for employers and employees alike.  While employers can save money by a reduction in overhead costs and increased employee productivity, employees can save money on the costs of commuting, wear and tear on vehicles, and out-of-pockets expenses for clothing and food.

But, what happens if you’re injured while working from home? Are you covered under workers’ compensation? Generally speaking, employees who work from home or telecommute are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if their injury “arises out of” and occurred “in the course” of their job.

However, employees bear the responsibility for proving that their injury is work-related — what was the employee doing at the time of the injury, when and where did it occur, and what were the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Your employer might disagree, but…

In workers’ compensation cases involving employees who were injured while working at home, the issue of liability is essential to the success of the claim.  While many employers have argued that they have no control over the conditions that exist in their employee’s home-based work environment, courts have generally found that to be irrelevant.

Employers can try to limit their workers’ compensation liability for telecommuters by taking steps such as:

Limiting the parameters of the ability of employees to work from home by placing restrictions on the specific locations that they are permitted to work in their home.

Limiting the number of hours an employee is permitted to work at home.

Conducting periodic checks of home-based work sites to identify and eliminate possible safety hazards

Identifying appropriate employees for telecommuting

In general, an employer is still charged with the responsibility of providing a safe and hazard-free work environment for telecommuters under his or her employ as would be provided for those who work on-site. However, it’s important to be aware of any practices that your employer has implemented to reduce their liability for a workers’ comp claim.

Enlisting the services of a worker’s comp attorney early in the claims process is crucial to the success of your case. Obtaining legal representation at the beginning of the claims process ensures that your benefits will flow smoothly.  Employers and their insurers spend a lot of time and money in an effort to minimize their liability and expenses in a workers’ comp claim.

Material facts

Accidents that occur to employees who work from home are going to require more proof that the accident was work-related.  These types of claims are more likely to be contested by the employer’s insurance company and attorney.  At Gold Country Workers’ Compensation Center, workers’ compensation lawyer, Kim LaValley, has experience when it comes to the worker’s comp laws as they apply to telecommuters’ rights to workers’ comp benefits.

If you’re looking for workers’ comp attorneys in Grass Valley, CA, Kim LaValley should be at the top of your list.  With over 35 years of experience in workers’ comp and disability law, we will work on your behalf to ensure that you’re getting all the benefits that you deserve.

Gold Country Comp
GoldCountryComp
GoldCountryComp.com