Roose Ressler & Green Co., LPA

08/29/2026

When you apply for disability, your records are protected. The Social Security Administration (SSA) won't share your personal information with anyone unless you allow it.

You can appoint someone to help you by filling out Form SSA-1696, Appointment of Representative. You can complete it electronically or print and mail or fax, whatever's easiest for you.

Naming a trusted caregiver or advocate as your representative gives you an extra layer of help as you navigate your claim, someone who can communicate with SSA, keep track of paperwork and deadlines, and ease the mental load so you can focus on your health.

Source: ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1696.html

08/19/2026

Social Security will look at how high blood pressure, diabetes, and related complications affect your ability to work consistently.

Those complications may include:
• Nerve pain or numbness
• Vision problems
• Kidney, heart, or circulation issues
• Fatigue
• Difficulty walking, concentrating, or maintaining a regular work schedule

Social Security also reviews your work history, education, treatment history, how your conditions have responded to treatment, and whether your limitations have lasted or are expected to last for at least 12 months.

If high blood pressure, diabetes, or related complications are limiting your ability to work, Roose Ressler & Green can review your situation and discuss whether working with a Social Security Disability lawyer may help.

https://www.rooselaw.com/contact-us/

08/11/2026

What are your chances of getting disability for arthritis?

A diagnosis of arthritis alone does not determine whether Social Security will approve a disability claim. The agency looks at how your symptoms limit your ability to work and whether you meet the program’s other requirements.

To meet Social Security’s definition of disability, your condition generally must prevent you from working at a substantial level and must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least 12 months. You do not have to wait until the full 12 months have passed before applying.

Medical records may help document:
▪️ Difficulty standing or walking
▪️ Limited use of your hands, fingers, or wrists
▪️ Trouble lifting, carrying, bending, or reaching
▪️ Pain, stiffness, swelling, or fatigue that affects your workday
▪️ Treatment recommended by your medical providers
▪️ Whether you followed the treatment plan and how your symptoms responded
▪️ Side effects or reasons a treatment could not be continued

Social Security will also consider your age, education, past work, and the combined effects of arthritis and other medical conditions.

If arthritis has limited your ability to work consistently, Roose Ressler & Green can review your situation and discuss whether representation may help. We serve clients across Northern Ohio through our Lorain and Wooster offices, with virtual appointments available.

https://www.rooselaw.com/contact-us/

08/03/2026

How much can I make on Social Security Disability?

So far in 2026, the average monthly benefit for a disabled worker is about $1,630. But your benefit is based on your own work and earnings history.

The fastest way to find out your benefit amount is through your free my Social Security account. Once you've created an account or logged in, you can:

✅ Confirm your work credits under "Eligibility and Earnings"
✅ See your personalized "Disability Benefit" estimate

See your information at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/

Source: ssa.gov/oact/STATS/dib-g3.html

07/26/2026

A denial is discouraging. Many people's first instinct is to start over with a brand-new application. If your disability claim is denied, in most cases, it's better to appeal.

Appealing keeps your existing claim moving forward instead of resetting it. At the first appeal level, Reconsideration, someone who wasn't involved in the original decision reviews your entire claim, including any new evidence you add, so you can strengthen your case rather than rebuild it.

You have 60 days from the date you receive your denial notice to request an appeal. If you miss that window, you may lose your right to appeal, and the denial becomes final.

There are four levels to appeal your case if you need them: Reconsideration, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, Appeals Council Review, and Federal Court.

Unless your situation has genuinely changed, appealing usually protects more than reapplying does, but the right path depends on why you were denied. In our 40+ years guiding Northern Ohioans through this process, we've helped many people turn a denial into a favorable outcome.

If you've been denied, reach out to Roose Ressler & Green for a free consultation before that 60-day window closes.

07/21/2026

Wondering what qualifies you for disability? SSA uses a 5-step test to decide whether you should pursue Social Security Disability Benefits.

1. Are you working? If you earn over the monthly limit ($1,690 in 2026), you generally won't qualify, no matter your condition.
2. Is your condition severe? You need a medical condition that will last at least 12 months and reduce your ability to work.
3. Is it a listed impairment? SSA checks whether your condition is on its official list of disabling conditions, or is as severe as one that is. If so, you may qualify here.
4. Can you do your past work? If your condition prevents you from doing the work you did before, and you meet the final step.
5. Can you do any other work? SSA weighs your age, education, and work experience to decide if there's other work you could do.

If you'd like to talk through your case, reach out to our team. We provide free evaluations and can help you get the benefits you deserve.

rooselaw.com/contact-us/

07/18/2026

Meet Melissa Kunder, Attorney at Roose Ressler & Green! With extensive knowledge of Social Security Disability Law and a passion for advocacy, Melissa listens closely to her clients' stories and guides them through each step of the process with compassion.

Melissa also speaks conversational Spanish and welcomes Spanish-speaking clients to connect with her about their Social Security Disability Benefits Case.

Learn more about Melissa and the rest of the team — https://www.rooselaw.com/about-roose-and-ressler/.

07/15/2026

Can osteoarthritis qualify you for disability before retirement age?

If you suffer from osteoarthritis and it has affected your daily life and your ability to work, you may be able to qualify for disability before retirement age.

Social Security evaluates your disability based on several factors, including how osteoarthritis limits your ability to function. Your age alone won't qualify you for disability, but it is a factor in SSA's decision, and it can actually work in your favor.

To meet SSA's listing for an abnormality of a major joint (Listing 1.00- Musculoskeletal Disorders), the SSA looks for objective medical documentation of all of the following: chronic joint pain or stiffness; abnormal motion, instability, or immobility of the affected joint; an anatomical abnormality of the joint seen on a physical exam or imaging, such as joint space narrowing or bony destruction; and a physical limitation that has lasted.

That last part is key. The SSA generally requires evidence that you have a documented medical need for a walker, two canes, or two crutches, or a wheeled mobility device, or that you can't use one or both arms well enough to carry out work-related tasks.

Even if your impairment doesn't meet the listing exactly, SSA moves on to consider whether your remaining ability to function still rules out gainful work, which is often where people in their 40s and 50s with worsening joints may have a case.

Strong, consistent medical records make a difference in the strength of your case. For the complete qualification requirements, review SSA's musculoskeletal listing. If osteoarthritis is keeping you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months, it's worth getting your claim evaluated.

Contact our team at rooselaw.com/contact-us/ to get started.

Source: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/1.00-Musculoskeletal-Adult.htm

07/10/2026

Denied disability and can't work? You still have options.

A denial isn't the end of the road, and many people are approved on appeal. But the process can be complicated, and you shouldn't have to face it alone while you're unable to work.

For more than 40 years, Roose Ressler & Green has helped people across Wayne and Lorain counties (as well as all of northern Ohio) fight denied disability claims with honesty and compassion. We'll review your situation, explain your next steps, and stand with you through every stage of the appeal.

Reach out today for a free, no-obligation evaluation. Contact us at rooselaw.com/contact-us

07/02/2026