The Social Security Disability process can be very long, tedious, and technical. However, it can also be very rewarding for an attorney who wishes to work in a practice area that is client driven because it gives you a real opportunity to help a client who is struggling both medically and financially.
The purpose of this CLE course is to introduce this practice area to a practitioner that is new to handling a disability claim. In this course, Georgia attorney Sara Khaki will detail the difference between SSDI & SSI, explain the administrative process, describe what to expect at the hearing level and provide her tips to a successful representation. Sara will mainly focus on the administrative law hearing of a disability claim because this is the level at which most claims are approved. It is also at the hearing level that an attorney can play the greatest role in winning disability benefits for their client. Some further topics addressed include: delivering personalized legal care, the definition of disability, the deeming chart, substantial gainful activity (SGA), the fee agreement & how the attorney gets paid, the initial application, requests for reconsideration, the hearing with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the 5 steps at the ALJ hearing, the listings, tools to use, past relevant work (PRW), the vocational expert and being prepared.
As a Social Security Disability attorney, Sara Khaki has represented over a thousand Social Security claimants throughout most of the southeast area with a great success rate. Based in Georgia, Sara’s legal work has mainly been focused on Social Security Disability Law from the administrative level through U.S. District Court Appeals. She has extensive experience with working with the Social Security Administration, medical providers, and expert witnesses to gain a favorable outcome for her clients. A graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, she received her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University, Summa Cum Laude. She is a member of NOSSCR (National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives), Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) and Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL).