Review
"If you are applying for disability, this is the only book you need to guide you through everything. I've highly recommended it to thousands of people with chronic illness through HopeKeepers Magazine."
--Lisa Copen, Rest Ministries, 2006.
"When a neurological disorder forced me to resign after 32 years of working, I was overwhelmed, depressed and not sure what to do next. Fortunately, I had ordered this book two weeks before and had somewhere to turn.
"I completed the worksheets (lots of information that Social Security needs but does not request) and followed Mr. Smith's suggestion to have a personal interview with Social Security. The employee was visibly delighted with the detail provided in the worksheets and I just received approval of my application only 2 1/2 months after applying!
"(Locally, according to a story in today's paper, only 25% of applications are granted the first time around and hearings take over 600 days.)
"I firmly believe that this book made a difference in my life." --Linda L. Brandenburg, Cleveland, OH, 2007
"I wrote How to Get SSI & Social Security Disability: An Insider's Step by Step Guide and have been in touch with Doug. Little did I know there would be a time when I would need to apply for SSI for someone in my family.
"Doug's book is indispensable to the SSDI/SSI disability claimant. He lists the information you'll need and plenty of forms are included. He's also got some hints like "get a face-to-face" interview. It's your right.
"What more can I say, I wrote a book on the subject and for additional help I turned to Doug's book immediately and it comes through with the goods. I think my book How to Get SSI and Social Security Disability still has vital and helpful information to add . . . I am an expert and I give Doug's book a full 2 thumbs up."
--Mike Davis, author, 2006
About the Author
The author, Douglas Smith, is an attorney who has practiced disability law since 1983. His experience includes civil and criminal trial work. He has served as an Assistant United States Attorney and trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. A resident of Texas, Doug is married and has two adult children.
In addition to disability law, he engages in mediation, conciliation, and collaborative law. As a mediator he has helped resolve workplace disputes involving people with disabilities.
Doug received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., and an undergraduate degree in history from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
He belongs to the State Bar of Texas, the Maryland State Bar, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR), and the Texas Collaborative Law Council.
Doug also belongs to the medical and scientific advisory committee of the Lupus Foundation of America Inc., and helped develop Social Security s new Listing of Impairments for Lupus.
He served on active duty with the U.S. Air Force Reserve, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant.
For further information, contact Physicians' Disability Services, Inc., P.O. Box 822, Severna Park, Maryland 21146, telephone 410-431-5279.
