The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is pleased to announce the addition of two new attorneys, David R. Miller and Andrew J. Bernstein. The two lawyers specialize in Social Security Disability law and round out a staff of nine attorneys and 45 legal professionals.

Attorney Miller is an Orono native who graduated from theUniversity of Maine School of Law. He served as Bangor’s Development Coordinator before entering private practice, and joins the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein with an expertise in Social Security Disability law. David is a member of NOSSCR (the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives), MOSSCR (the Maine Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives), MTLA (the Maine Trial Lawyers Association), the Maine State Bar Association, and the Penobscot County Bar Association. Outside of work he enjoys mountain biking and is a member of the Orono-Old Town Kiwanis club.

Attorney Bernstein is a graduate of Bowdoin College and the University of Maine School of Law, and was admitted to the Maine state and federal courts in 1980. Andy was a litigation partner at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson for 7 years, and has held leadership positions at Unum and Disability RMS, Inc. Andy is a member of the University of Maine School of Law Alumni Board and a Class Agent, and is currently the co-chair of the corporate lawyers section of the Maine Campaign for Justice. Andy is also a past President of Congregation Bet Ha'am, and has been a Cape Elizabeth Little League umpire.

Attorneys Miller and Bernstein join a distinguished Social Security law team that has represented over 1,500 Mainers in Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDIB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims in over 34 years of practice. On average, our senior attorneys have more than 22 years of experience and are assisted by a support staff of 11 legal professionals dedicated to the practice of Social Security Disability law.

To receive benefits under the SSDIB or SSI programs, you must have a diagnosed physical or mental condition severe enough to keep you from working in any regular paying job for at least 12 months. The Social Security Administrationwill take into account your medical condition, your age, abilities, training, and work experience in deciding your case.

An initial denial of an application is common, most people go through the appeals process to get a favorable result. Nationally, about two-thirds of all applicants are denied benefits initially. You then have 60 days from the date of your denial to file an appeal. Although you could hire an attorney at any step, the most common time to do so is immediately after the initial denial letter is received. If you’ve been denied benefits, having an experienced attorney to represent you significantly improves the likelihood of a favorable result.

Examples of the ways in which our attorneys assist clients include: 

• Advise and assist in obtaining appropriate medical examinations and treatment.
• Obtain and carefully review the Social Security file.
• Seek to reopen prior applications that were abandoned.
• Prepare the client to testify at the hearing.
• Protect the client’s right to a fair hearing by objecting to improper evidence and procedures.
• Cross-examine the expert witnesses at the hearing.
• Prepare and file a legal brief to the Administrative Law Judge.
• Respond to requests from the Administrative Law Judge for additional evidence after the hearing.
• When benefits are awarded, monitor the actions of the Social Security Administration to ensure that all are correctly calculated and paid.

Having an experienced and knowledgeable attorney is often the key to being granted your disability benefits. If your application for Social Security Disability benefits has been denied, don’t give up. Call the Law Offices of Joe Bornsteintoday for a free and confidential consultation. Pay us a fee only if you win.

With a statewide practice and five convenient offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta and Bangor, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to help Mainers get the justice they deserve.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein – Maine Lawyers Working For Maine People