An experienced Charlotte disability lawyer can help you establish your actual ability to work

A Charlotte Disability Attorney may help you show proof why you can no longer work. Call the Bridgman Law Offices at (704) 815-6055 now!

If your claim for Social Security disability benefits was denied based on a determination that you are able to perform past relevant work or “lighter” work, your testimony at your disability hearing will be instrumental in proving that the decision-maker has overstated your residual functional capacity (that is, your ability to work, despite the limitations caused by your impairment).

If you paint a general picture of your daily activities – say, “cooking, gardening and household chores” – then the judge may deny your appeal (and your benefits) on the ground that you are more than capable of performing sedentary work. If, however, you provide details about the extent to which you perform these activities, those details may carry the day and persuade the judge to rule in your favor. Helpful details might include:

• “Cooking” means popping frozen meals into the microwave. I rarely cook anything from scratch anymore because I cannot stand for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time, and the act of cooking (chopping, stirring, etc.) aggravates my back.
• “Gardening” means pulling the dead heads off potted flowers and turning on the sprinklers once a day. This takes about ten minutes a day.
• My “household chores” have been reduced to sweeping crumbs off the kitchen floor and moving dishes from the sink to the dishwasher. This usually takes about 20 minutes, and most days I have to lie down and rest after this brief exertion.

In order to be capable of holding even a sedentary job, you must be capable of performing work-related activities on a sustained basis throughout a normal workday, for a full work-week. Detailed testimony regarding your daily activities can demonstrate that you are not able to meet that threshold.

An experienced Charlotte disability attorney can improve your chances of success by eliciting critical facts during your testimony at your disability hearing. Delving into these details can make the difference between a denial and an award of benefits. If you would like to talk with a knowledgeable Charlotte disability attorney, please contact us.