Susan Michele Schaefer
Cardea Law Group, LLC
Susan Michele Schaefer has over 30 years of professional experience. She began her career as a trial attorney before establishing a decades-long career at the Social Security Administration (SSA). She is also accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Practice areas include Social Security disability, VA disability, bankruptcy, and wills and estates.
She has a wealth of knowledge about disability from extensive field experience at the Disability Determination Services, and at the Office of Hearings Operations as a Hearing Office Director, Supervisory Attorney, and Senior Attorney, and at Social Security National Headquarters as Deputy Director, Branch Chief. Ms. Schaefer know how the system works and will help you get the benefits you need.
- Social Security Disability
- Bankruptcy
- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Debt Relief
- Probate
- Probate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Veterans Administration Disability Law
- Zoom
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
- Alabama
- Alabama State Bar Association
- ID Number: 9216G15Y
- Indiana
- Indiana Supreme Court
- ID Number: 14112-64
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Accredited
- ID Number: https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/accredpeople.asp
- English: Spoken, Written
- Owner
- Cardea Law Group, LLC
- - Current
- We will provide you with advice and guidance throughout your case. We will advocate on your behalf and make a comprehensive presentation of your case. We know how the system works and can cut through complicated bureaucratic procedures to help you win your case.
- Deputy Director, Branch Chief
- Social Security Administration
- -
- Provided disability policy advice to SSA executives. Also led research and drafting of regulations, rulings and policy guidance.
- Hearing Office Director, Supervisory Attorney
- Social Security Administration
- -
- Supervised attorneys and paralegals in Social Security hearing offices.
- Trial Attorney
- Emerick and Diggins, PC
- -
- Trial attorney in a general practice law firm.
- Valparaiso University School of Law
- J.D. (1988) | Law
- -
- Indiana University - Indiana University-Bloomington
- B.A. (1984) | English
- -
- Commissioner’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Medical Policy
- Social Security Administration
- Indiana State Bar  # 14112-64
- Member
- Current
- American Bar Association
- Member
- Current
- Alabama State Bar
- Member
- Current
- NOSSCR
- Member
- Current
- Helping the homeless and others facing barriers with Social Security Disability applications and claims
- National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)
- Evaluation of Symptoms in Disability Claims, Social Security Ruling 16-3p, Chronic Fatgue Advisory Committee, Washington, D.C.
- Health and Human Services
- Drug Addiction and Alcoholism (DAA) and Disability, National Association of Disability Representatives Conference, Washington, D.C.
- National Association of Disability Representatives
- Accredited Attorney
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Q. Is it good if I checked my social security status claim online and it says ssa is reviewing to see if i still meet nonme
- A: It is best to wait for the Administrative Law Judge decision to make sure you are approved for SSI disability. The online information is fine as a general guide, but it is not the official decision. The decision will specify if you meet the medical requirements for disability and, if so, set out the established onset date when your disability began. For SSI you must also meet the income and resource limits in addition to being medically disabled. Social Security will conduct an interview with you about your countable income and resources to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements. Resources are limited to $2,000 for an individual. Once you have both decisions - medically disabled and ... Read More
- Q. What do i do if my mom keeps opening my mail?
- A: It is a good idea to set up a bank account for yourself and direct that your Social Security benefit payments be directly deposited into your account. It is more secure than having a paper check mailed to your address. You can do this by creating a My Social Security account and then set up direct deposit once you have your bank account established. For more information about how to do this see https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/?gclid=CjwKCAiA7t6sBhAiEiwAsaieYvVXLY5CD2tictMqXPYRTD-urx-obncrBQIVNFL2_ctriawBoOCRZhoCWPEQAvD_BwE.
While you are at the bank, you may also want to set up an ABLE account for yourself. This is a tax-free savings account used to cover qualified disability expenses. Social ... Read More
- Q. May I still get a lawyer even if my disability process is almost complete I filed back n 2020 a still waiting it is hard
- A: Yes, you have a right to be represented and you can hire a lawyer to represent you at any point of the disability process. Here is general information from Social Security at https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10075.pdf.
Locate a lawyer using Justia's "Find a Lawyer". Ask a lawyer for a free consultation so you can talk about your particular case and find out what the lawyer's approach would be. Once you have found an experienced disability lawyer you want to hire, appoint the lawyer with signed Appointment of Representative and Fee Agreement forms. Most lawyers charge a contingent fee of 25% of your back pay if you win your case. If you do not win, the lawyer would not ... Read More
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