Hearing loss is often an injury that may occur when a person is employed at a workplace with loud and consistent noise, such as a construction site. When an employee suffers severe hearing loss that could affect their ability to work and perform other tasks, it is possible they could be eligible for disability benefits. If you need help applying for disability benefits after suffering an injury at the workplace that causes hearing loss, you should consult with an experienced Fayetteville, AR disability attorney as soon as possible. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, would like to offer you the legal aid you need to manage your disability benefits. Our firm is here to help you learn whether you can receive disability benefits for hearing loss in Arkansas.
Applying for Disability Benefits for Hearing Loss from a Workplace Accident in Arkansas
Hearing loss is a serious injury that can happen in a variety of workplace accidents. For example, if a worker is employed in a consistently loud workplace, this may gradually affect the worker’s hearing negatively. In other cases, a worker could become caught in a blast that causes substantial hearing loss or death. To help with medical bills and other expenses that may occur due to your hearing loss injury, you should consult with an experienced attorney that can help you file for disability benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays disability benefits to individuals that are unable to work because of a medical condition. Specifically, the applicant’s medical condition in question must last at least one year or be expected to result in the applicant’s death. Under some circumstances, you may be able to get disability benefits for a family member as well. If you need help figuring out if your hearing loss is a medical condition that qualifies for disability in Arkansas, contact our Fayetteville, AR disability lawyer.
When to Apply for Disability Benefits for Hearing Loss
If you were severely injured at the workplace and experienced severe hearing loss, you should waste no time in filing for disability benefits. While it can be difficult to deal with an application for disability benefits so soon after becoming injured, you should file as soon as possible as an application for disability benefits can take up five months or possibly even longer.
You may file a disability benefits application online, or you could make an appointment to file at a local SSA office. Prior to filing your application, you should ensure that you have the following information on hand:
- Your Social Security number
- Your birth certificate
- The name and contact information for your doctor and other medical practitioners that handled your medical care
- The medication you take to treat your disability
- Medical records from doctors, therapists, hospitals, and other healthcare practitioners that have treated your condition
- Lab and test results for your medical condition
- Name of your former workplace and the type of work you performed
- A copy of your W-2 or federal tax forms if self-employed
There are multiple forms that you will have to fill out to apply for disability benefits in Arkansas. If you have trouble finding any of the above information or if you need assistance to file your case, you should work with an experienced Harris, AR disability benefits attorney.
What Happens If My Disability Benefits Application is Denied in Arkansas for Hearing Loss?
If you are applying for disability benefits for hearing loss, you should be aware that your application can be denied. In fact, there are many initial applications for disability benefits that are denied by the SSA. However, receiving notice of a denial of benefits does not mean that an applicant is out of options.
Note, however, that it is vital for an applicant to adhere to any time limits set by the SSA for appealing a denial of benefits. A missed deadline will mean that the applicant will have to begin the entire application process again.
If your request for disability benefits was denied, you could ask the SSA for a reconsideration. When filling out forms for reconsideration, the SSA will ask the specific reason for disagreeing with the denial of benefits. Additionally, the SSA may ask additional questions like whether your condition has worsened or whether your disability affects your daily activities.
A reconsideration is performed by an examiner from the Disability Determination Services. Note, however, that there is a low chance that your claim would be approved in a reconsideration appeal. Fortunately, an applicant for benefits can also request a hearing before an administrative law judge if their reconsideration of benefits is denied.
This is a light overview of the process that an applicant may have to take to secure disability benefits if their initial application is denied. It could take months to receive disability benefits for your hearing loss injury, and our firm can help you with every step of the disability process.
We have extensive experience with helping injured individuals apply for benefits, and we would be proud to help you receive the benefits that you deserve for your hearing loss workplace injury. If you were denied disability benefits in Arkansas, call our law firm.
Contact Our Experienced Fayetteville, AR Disability Benefits Lawyer to Discuss Your Hearing Loss Workplace Accident
If you or a family member was a victim of a workplace injury in Arkansas that resulted in hearing loss, you should consider working with an experienced Arkansas disability benefits attorney to pursue the benefits you deserve. With over two decades of legal experience handling a wide range of disability cases, SSDI lawyer Ken Kieklak is prepared to fight for you. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your potential disability benefits, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, at (479) 316-0438. You may also use our online submission form to schedule your appointment.