SSDI Awards | Depression

Facts: Claimant was 42 years old, he stopped working in September 2007 as a result of rheumatoid arthritis and depression. His last job was working as an attendant at a transfer station. Claimant first applied for benefits in Portland, ME in November 2007 and was denied in April 2008. He was homeless at the time and did not receive the denial notice until after the 60 day time limit. On February 18, 2010 he reapplied and was awarded benefits on March 1, 2010. However, he retained us to appeal the award because Social Security found him disabled since July 1, 2009, much later then his alleged onset date of September 30, 2007. As part of the appeal, we filed a motion to re-open his prior denial and argued that he never received notice of the initial denial and that there was good cause for re-opening the old file.

Case Result: The motion was approved and thereafter we did an On the Record Request and requested two years of additional benefits be awarded and that his onset date be set for November 2007. The On the Record was approved without the need for a hearing and he was awarded over $20,000 in additional benefits.