Immigrant Disability Claims
Although the eligibility rules are more complicated for immigrants, the actual disability claims process is very much the same. The bigger problems faced by immigrants involve unfair biases, economic disadvantages and language or cultural barriers.
If you are an immigrant living in California's Central Valley, and you are struggling to cope with a disability - the attorneys to contact for help with your Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income claim are at Milam Law.
Having worked in this area for decades, lawyers at our firm are sensitive to the special challenges faced by disabled immigrants.
- Bias can be a huge obstacle. Unfortunately, it still exists. Our firm attacks that bias wherever we find it and has successfully represented a broad spectrum of immigrant clients, including adults who grew up in times of war and who are now experiencing mental disabilities because of it. Many attorneys do not aggressively attack bias of ALJs, but that cannot be said about this office. Where an injustice has been done, we will help that person wronged by the system in whatever way needed. Even recently, we have been successful in getting a Federal Court decision specifically find an ALJ biased, which rarely happens. The fight against unfair and unjust practices continue, and it will continue in this office where necessary to help people.
- Lack of education and language skills can also be a problem. In fact, many immigrants who don't speak English or understand the SSA's rules will give up on their claims after being denied benefits. Our lawyers speak for you and may even be able to speak directly with you in your native language. We speak Spanish, Lao and Cambodian. We also offer translation services for Hmong-speaking clients. In fact, Attorney Bosavanh is the first Lao attorney in the central valleys to pass the California Bar exam and work here and has been instrumental in applying her special understanding to the process. For example, she has been able to see and expose to SSA and the ALJs just how problematic the interpretation of English can be for SEA and other ethnicities.
- Cultural barriers may be present as well. For instance, in some cultures it is not polite to look someone in the eye when you are speaking to them. Unfortunately, if you do not look an Administrative Law Judge in the eye when you speak, they can easily misinterpret that as an attempt to lie or conceal something. We work closely with our immigrant clients so that we can identify those barriers and do something about them. Years of experience in working in ESL people groups has helped this firm greatly in working with these people and helping their disabilities get translated and represented in a proper cultural context, and Attorney Bosavanh's impact has heightened this presentation to a new level.
Our firm handles immigrant disability claims throughout the Central Valley, from Bakersfield to Sacramento. To talk to us about your disability claim or appeal, free of charge - call at 877-840-3508 (toll free) or contact us online. There are no costs are fees to pay up front. We only get paid if we obtain SSD or SSI benefits on your behalf.
