SSDI Claims, Appeals and Hearings: 2022 Paralegals' Guide

Agenda / Content Covered

1. SSDI Representative Rules Update and Recent Claim Trends
   10:00 — 10:30, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
2. Obtaining Representative Authorization With the SSA
   10:30 — 11:00, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
3. Claim Evaluation: Establishing Disability Timeline, Identifying Weaknesses, Forming a Strategy
   11:00 — 11:30, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
4. Initial Application, E-Folder and Supporting Documentation
   11:45 — 12:15, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
5. Medical Records, Opinion Evidence, and Reporting Referrals
   12:15 — 12:45, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
6. Tackling Requests for Reconsideration
   12:45 — 1:15, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
7. Request for Hearing and Brief: What to Include, How to Frame the Case
   1:45 — 2:15, Anne Hartwig, Grayson Smith Cannon, Amanda Pirt Meyer
8. ALJ Hearing Tactics
   2:15 — 2:45, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
9. Vocational Expert Approaches
   2:45 — 3:15, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
10. Federal Court Appeal and Representative Fee Issues
    3:30 — 4:00, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
11. Paralegal Ethics
    4:00 — 5:00, Anne Hartwig, Amanda Pirt Meyer, Grayson Smith Cannon
    1. Ethics Rules Overview
    2. HIPAA Considerations
    3. Preserving Confidentiality
    4. Clients with Diminished Capacity
    5. Client Conflicts

Accreditation Details:

Anne C Hartwig is an attorney with Becker Law Office, S.C., where she has extensive administrative law experience, public benefits (Medicaid and Medicare) experience and special education experience. She practices in the areas of colleges and universities, public schools, disability, domestic violence and neglect, ethics, mental health, and Social Security (disability, retirement, and survivors benefits). Ms. Hartwig also was managing attorney at LAW, Inc., where she practiced family law and healthcare law. She was a visiting professor at Temple Law School in Philadelphia and taught healthcare regulation, finance, and bioethics. Ms. Hartwig has done extensive research and writing in the area of bioethics and aggression. She is a member of the Ethics Committee at Meriter Hospital in Madison, and the Progressive Community Services, Inc. Board. Ms. Hartwig earned her B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; her J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School; and her Ph.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Amanda Pirt Meyer is an attorney with Haskins Short & Brindley LLC, where she focuses her practice on Social Security disability law, probate law, guardianship law, trust administration, and special needs trusts. Ms. Pirt Meyer has a background in health insurance and science, and began her legal career by practicing personal injury law. She has previously presented on the intersection of probate and personal injury law. She is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, State Bar of Wisconsin, and the Dane County Bar Association. Ms. Pirt Meyer earned her B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her J.D. degree from Marquette University Law School.

Grayson Smith Cannon is an attorney in the Gallatin firm of Phillips & Ingrum, where her main areas of practice are Social Security, domestic relations law, family law, and probate. She has previously lectured on Social Security disability matters for National Business Institute. Ms. Smith Cannon has also lectured on Social Security issues, wills and estates, and probate before the public and other attorneys. She is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, Lawyers Association for Women, and the Tennessee and Nashville bar associations. Ms. Smith Cannon earned her B.A. degree from Rhodes College and her J.D. degree from Nashville School of Law.