Charlotte, north Carolina
Charlotte Disability Lawyers for SSDI and SSI
Downard & Associates helps adults in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. We work with clients by phone and video from Tennessee. We can help prepare an application, address a denial at reconsideration, or present a claim at a hearing before a Social Security judge. Start with the places you received treatment, the work your condition limits, and the stage of your claim.
How we help
How We Develop a Charlotte Disability Claim
For SSI, we also help with the required financial disclosures.
We help explain your treatment history and work limitations through the application and appeal process. The work changes with the stage of your claim:
Application: We help complete application paperwork, gather medical evidence, and document work history. For SSI, we also help with the required financial disclosures.
Reconsideration: We review the reasons for the denial and address missing evidence or other issues identified in the decision.
Hearing: We prepare you for testimony, develop the medical record, and present your case to an administrative law judge (ALJ).
VA refers to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
We handle SSDI cases for people who currently receive VA benefits, but we do not handle VA claims or appeals. We do not take disability cessation or continuing disability review cases, or new cases involving back-pay issues alone. We refer federal court appeals to a trusted affiliate rather than handling them in-house.
Our North Carolina disability representation page explains the statewide service area and claim process.
Benefit eligibility
SSDI and SSI Eligibility for Charlotte Adults
Duration rule
12months
SSDI generally requires enough recent work in jobs covered by Social Security. The work-credit requirements depend on your age when your disability began. SSI does not require work credits. It has separate income, resource, and other eligibility rules and may be available to people who are 65 or older, meet Social Security's statutory blindness rules, or have a qualifying disability.
For SSDI and adult SSI claims based on disability, the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers whether a medically determinable condition prevents substantial gainful activity. That means significant physical or mental work of a kind usually done for pay or profit. If the evaluation reaches the relevant steps, SSA also considers your past work that it treats as relevant and whether you can adjust to other work. Not every claim reaches every step.
The disabling condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 consecutive months, or be expected to result in death. You do not have to wait a year before applying.
SSI based on statutory blindness follows different rules: SSA does not use substantial gainful activity to determine initial SSI eligibility, and there is no duration requirement for SSI statutory blindness. SSI financial and other requirements still apply. SSI based on age 65 or older does not require a disability finding.
See SSA's SSDI eligibility rules and SSI eligibility requirements, including its separate blindness rules.
Medical evidence
Organizing Charlotte Treatment Records From Atrium and Novant
Its paper process distinguishes a patient request for your own copies from an authorization to send records to an attorney or another organization.
North Carolina Disability Determination Services (DDS) makes the initial medical determination after SSA checks the nonmedical requirements and sends the case to DDS. North Carolina DDS seeks evidence from your own health care providers first. If you received care through more than one system, identify each treating provider and the dates involved.
Atrium Health Records
Atrium Health operates Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Its medical-records instructions explain that MyAtriumHealth displays portions of the electronic record and also provides a way to submit a records request. Its paper process distinguishes a patient request for your own copies from an authorization to send records to an attorney or another organization.
Novant Health Records
Novant Health operates Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte. Its records guidance allows patients to request copies through MyChart and provides a separate online portal for third-party requests for North Carolina patients. Most third-party requests require a signed patient authorization. Novant also notes that some hospital records are not part of a clinic's record.
If you were treated by both systems, list the hospital or practice, treating provider, visit dates, and any tests or hospital stays for each. Use the provider's instructions for the kind of request you need. These are examples of record sources, not a list of every Charlotte provider.
Get organized
Build a Treatment and Work Checklist for Your Charlotte Claim
Use this checklist to organize a conversation about your claim. SSA's application guidance explains what information to gather and says not to delay applying because documents are missing.
Treatment: List every doctor, hospital, and clinic, including care outside Charlotte. Record contact information, treatment dates, patient identification numbers if known, and the condition treated.
Tests and medications: Note test dates, who ordered them, the medicines you take, and who prescribed them. Identify records you already have and records you still need.
Work: List your jobs and dates worked. Describe the duties your condition affected, such as lifting, standing, concentrating, or interacting with others. A job title alone does not describe those demands.
Claim papers: Keep your application information, decisions, evidence requests, and the dates notices arrived together. Include any hearing appearance forms you receive.
After a denial
After an Initial or Reconsideration Denial in Charlotte
Deadline
60days
After an initial SSDI or SSI denial, you generally must request reconsideration in writing within 60 days after receiving the notice. After a reconsideration denial, a written request for an ALJ hearing generally has the same 60-day receipt-based deadline. SSA normally presumes receipt five days after the notice date, unless you show that you received it later.
If your request is late, submit a written request for more time and explain the delay. SSA must find good cause to extend the deadline; an extension is not automatic. Follow your decision's instructions. The SSDI reconsideration rule and SSI reconsideration rule explain those requests.
Hearing attendance
Understanding the Charlotte Hearing Office and Your Appearance
Our hearing-office guide provides office information to read alongside your SSA notices.
SSA hearings can take place in person, by telephone audio, by agency video using SSA equipment at an agency office, or by online video using your own device. Online video requires your agreement. The Notice of Ways to Attend a Hearing includes forms for objecting to audio or agency video and agreeing to online video.
Objections are subject to SSA's scheduling rules and exceptions. Follow the response deadlines and instructions in your notices. An in-person hearing may be held at a hearing office or another designated site; your scheduling notice gives the method and, when relevant, the location. Review SSA's hearing attendance options.
Common questions
Charlotte Disability Claim Questions
What if I received treatment outside Charlotte?
Include those providers in your treatment list. SSA asks for information about all doctors, hospitals, and clinics involved in your care, including their contact information and treatment dates. Organize the list around where you actually received care.
Can I use the same records request for myself and my attorney?
Follow the provider's instructions for the recipient. Atrium distinguishes its paper patient request from its authorization for records sent to an attorney or organization. Novant provides patient access through MyChart and a separate third-party portal for North Carolina patients; most third-party requests require a signed patient authorization.
Should I wait until I have every record before applying?
No. SSA says not to delay applying because documents are missing. Identify your treating providers, the records you have, and what is missing so the remaining evidence can be requested.
Can Downard work with me if I cannot travel to Tennessee?
Yes. We represent adults in Charlotte by phone and video from our Tennessee base. We have no offices outside Tennessee. Those client communications are separate from the method SSA schedules for your hearing.
Discuss your claim
Discuss Your Charlotte SSDI or SSI Claim With Downard
Tell us what your work involved, how your condition affects those duties, and where your claim stands. We can discuss the next steps for representation.