Social Security Disability Insurance is an important social program that protects the rights of disabled American workers. Supported by the payroll taxes that you have paid throughout your career, SSDI is not a government handout or “free ride.” Rather, it is a necessary source of funding that you and your family may need to support themselves during a difficult period of transition. If you have become permanently or temporarily disabled, you may qualify for disability benefits.
Unfortunately, the process of applying for SSDI can be difficult and discouraging. First, you will need to figure out whether you are eligible to receive benefits. The Social Security Administration maintains a list of approved physical and psychological conditions that confer basic disability eligibility. However, you will also need to meet several other criteria before being cleared to draw SSDI. You must not be eligible to draw retirement benefits through Social Security and must have accumulated a certain number of “work credits” during your working life.
To obtain SSD benefits, you must apply through the Social Security Administration as well as Pennsylvania Disability Determination Services. To reduce the likelihood of mistakes during the application process, you may wish to retain the services of an experienced attorney. If your initial application is denied, your attorney will be especially helpful during the convoluted appeals process.
Social Security Office Harrisburg PA
Your local Social Security field office can help you with several things, including filing an application for social security disability benefits, obtaining a social security card, getting a replacement for a lost or stolen card, or setting up direct deposit for your benefits. The field office for Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is:
SOCIAL SECURITY
SUITE 810
555 WALNUT STREET
HARRISBURG, PA 17101
You can also reach the Harrisburg Social Security office by phone at: 1-888-327-1176. The field office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am until 3:00pm.
Harrisburg Social Security Office
The Social Security Hearing Office is located in Harrisburg. The address is:
SSA, Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
2 N. 2nd Street, 8th Floor
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
You can reach the office by phone at (888) 352-3691 or by fax at (717) 236-3150.
The hearing office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00am until 4:30pm.
The Administrative Law Judges for Bethlehem, PA
For Harrisburg cases that are heard in the local Hearing Office, your social security hearing will go before one of nine Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). The Administrative Law Judges who may hear your SSD case are:
| Bridges, Charles | Burock, Theodore |
| Cutter, Patrick S | Landesberg, Janet R |
| Myers, Daniel | Riley, Randy |
| Sweeney, Reana K | Train, Peter V |
| Zanotto, Sharon |
Contacting A Harrisburg Social Security Disability Attorney
The team of SSD experts at Chermol & Fishman LLC will provide you with a full range of advice and services. The firm’s polished professionals are deeply familiar with the Harrisburg legal community and maintain working relationships with the judges and legal staff who may play a role in your petition for disability benefits. They also work well with the local Pennsylvania Disability Determination Services office and can facilitate your interactions with the federal Social Security Administration as well.
Throughout the entire process, your Harrisburg SSD attorneys will keep you abreast of developments relating to your case and explain the protocols and procedures of the application process in plain English. They will file paperwork on your behalf and ensure that your application is complete and on time. When you work with the seasoned SSD team at Chermol & Fishman LLC, you can rest assured that your attorneys will fight for your best interests and answer only to you.
Supporting Your Family Through Social Security Harrisburg
Under certain circumstances, you may be permitted to include some of your family members on your disability benefits application. Qualifying family members may include your non-working spouse and unmarried children. If they can qualify as your dependents, you may even be able to include your grandchildren on your SSD application. The compassionate legal team at Chermol & Fishman LLC understands that you may need to use your benefits to support multiple family members. To guide you through the complex process of adding beneficiaries to your application, you will need a lawyer who cares about your entire family and exhibits a willingness to fight aggressively to secure the support that you deserve.
