If medical problems have made it impossible for you to work, you might be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees disability benefits, which are paid monthly. There are specific criteria that must be met to qualify for benefits. Your condition must last at least a year or longer or it must be expected to lead to your death. Specific medical criteria that apply to your condition must be met. The SSA uses a medical guide, which is called the Blue Book, to determine if an individual meets the criteria for disability.

In most cases, disability claims are denied. In such instances, you can file an appeal and get your claim reconsidered. If the reconsideration also leads to a denial, you can file an appeal and request a hearing at the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) before an administrative law judge (ALJ).

Claims are denied for many reasons, but there are some reasons more common than others. If you don’t have hard medical evidence to show your condition and its severity as well as the restrictions and limitations caused by it, your claim will be denied. It is important to make sure Disability Determination Services (DDS) can access all your medical records so they can understand your condition and determine if you are disabled.

If you are working enough to surpass the limits for substantial gainful activity (SGA), your claim will also be denied. Failure to get follow-up treatment is another reason for claims being denied. In Maryland, 28.7% of claimants are approved on the initial consideration while 15.3% get approval on the reconsideration review. At the appeal hearing, Maryland applicants see a 57.4% approval rate.

Visiting the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in Maryland

If your initial application is denied, you will ask for a reconsideration. If the reconsideration is denied, you will ask for a hearing before an ALJ. When you go to the hearing, you will be questioned by an ALJ and a vocational expert.

There will be questions specifically pertaining to your condition and your line of work. Your age, work history, educational background, and skills will also be considered to determine if you can perform some other line of work. Maryland has two ODAR offices. The state has an average 18.3-month wait for a hearing and the average processing time is 593 days in the state. The state has a 47% approval rate on the hearing level compared to a national average of 45%.

The Baltimore office has 17 judges and an average wait of 19.5 months for a hearing. That ODAR has an average claim processing time of 648 days and there is an approval rate average of 48%. The NHC Baltimore office has 18 judges and an average 17-month wait for a hearing. The NHC Baltimore ODAR has a 47% approval rate and claims take an average of 539 days to process. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing by getting you ready for questioning and by helping you get all your medical records and documentation ready for the judge and vocational expert to review.

Getting Help from a Disability Attorney

Because of the complexity of disability claims and the high number of claims that are denied, you can benefit significantly from the guidance of a Social Security attorney. Your lawyer can help you every step of the way, from filing the initial disability claim to being approved for benefits at a hearing. Your attorney can accompany you to the local SSA office or to DDS to make sure all your documentation is in order and all your medical records are in hand for review.

Your attorney can also handle all the communications with the SSA representatives and respond to any questions while providing any information they might need. Your attorney can file any necessary appeals and help you prove your case. There are several SSA offices located throughout the state:

Social Security Administration
180 ADM Cochrane Drive Suite 210
Annapolis, MD 21401
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Wednesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Social Security Administration
Suite 110 Lakeside Building
Columbia, MD 21045
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Wednesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Social Security Administration
1010 Park Avenue Suite 200
Baltimore, MD 21201
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Wednesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

To get your claim underway, complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to get a free case evaluation from a disability attorney today!

Additional Resources

Applying for Disability in Maryland
Applying for Disability in Baltimore