Product Description

The Disability Workbook book explains your role as a Social Security disability applicant, the requirements for initiating the claim, and how to provide the information Social Security needs to process the claim. Unlike comparable books, this one is written by an experienced disability lawyer. It gives you the perspective of a professional who has proven many Social Security disability cases. Worksheets in the book help you get organized and obtain the records for your claim. They equip you to discuss the specifics of your disability with your doctor and Social Security. Completing the worksheets also takes the terror out of completing the many forms that Social Security hands you at different stages of the process.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #791417 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-03
• Released on: 2005-05-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 136 pages

Review
A great resource to help you understand the SSDI process. . . .not oversimplified . . . a good mix . . . easy to understand. -- Reader, Arkansas, May 8, 2005

A great resource to help you understand the SSDI process. . . .not oversimplified . . . a good mix . . . easy to understand. --Reader, Arkansas, May 8, 2005

Thanks for putting together the Disability Workbook. . . . it made the difference in the ease and speed of my SSDI approval. -- Reader, California, October 23, 2004

Thanks for putting together the Disability Workbook. . . . it made the difference in the ease and speed of my SSDI approval. --Reader, California, October 23, 2004

About the Author
The author, Douglas Smith, is an attorney who has practiced disability law since 1983. His experience includes civil and criminal trial work. He has served as an Assistant United States Attorney and trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. A resident of Maryland, Doug is married and has two adult children. Doug received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., and an undergraduate degree in history from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Doug practices law and mediation in Maryland.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Self-Help Resource
Anyone who is considering applying for Social Security disabiliity benefits should order this book immediately. I am attorney and have been representing Social Security claimants for over 20 years. The biggest problem most of my clients have is the overwhelming amount of information that you must provide to Social Security. Mr. Smith's book explains why each piece of information is needed for a successful result on your claim.

I have been using this book since its 1st Edition and I have never been disappointed. The most important part of the book is the section with six worksheets where you can assemble all the information you will need for your application. Even the most disorganized person will be able to use these invaluable worksheets. Many of my clients come to me after completing these worksheets and the initial interview goes twice as fast.

For successful applicants, the appendices on Continuing Disability Reviews and the Ticket to Work Act are completely up to date and provide excellent guidance.

In short, I give this book the highest rating for both its plain language approach and its superb contents. More self-help books shoould be this easy to use and useful.

The Information Social Security REALLY NEEDS
After personally speaking to Mr. Smith, I was convinced of his sincerity and committment to helping those applying for SSDI. I purchased this book, used the forms, and I got it on my first try.

His forms that I filled out(daily activities) and attached to all of my Doctor's forms were extraordinarily helpful and I believe essential in the decision making process for Social Security. It also proved helpful to the doctors who were making their reports. As long as your doctors know you, they still cannot be with you all day to know your moment to moment activities. These forms give them a birds eye view of what one deals with on a daily basis.

I recommend this book very highly.

A Lifesaver
>I cannot say enough good things about attorney Douglas Smith's Disability Workbook. As a social worker with lupus, I had reached the point where I could no longer work, and thought that my social work experience would be an asset to me in my disability application. But when faced with the actual
application, I became completely overwhelmed. Fortunately a friend put me on to Doug's book, which was invaluable. It showed me how to organize my claim, illustrated what a medical report that is acceptable to Social Security should look like, provided forms to help me put it all together. I believe it was because of Doug's suggestions that my claim was approved on my first
try (up to 50% of first claims are denied, I have heard). My doctor also appreciated the information on how to write a good medical report. He knew I was sick and could not work but he did not know how to get that information across in a way that was acceptable to Social Security. This book is well worth the cost, is informative, empowering and gets results.
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