Our Experienced Attorneys are Dedicated to Helping You

We Will Help You Achieve the Best Possible Outcome

Law Firm in Southern Illinois
  • Experience You Can Trust
  • Dedicated, Loyal Attorneys
  • We Treat You with Respect

Our law firm is dedicated to helping clients throughout Southern Illinois with Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claims. When you enlist the help of Murray, Rose & Associates, Ltd, you are receiving help from Southern Illinois’ longest-standing and most successful Social Security Disability law firm. From start to finish, our team will be by your side to help you throughout the entire process. This includes applications, prehearing appeals, administrative hearings, federal appeals, and more. We are proud to represent local clients to get the help they need to move forward in their lives. At Murray, Rose and Associates, Ltd, we do not charge a fee unless you receive benefits.

Richard Murray

Richard Murray attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale(SIUC), graduating in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from the SIUC School of Law and became licensed to practice in 1982. Mr. Murray was involved in the general practice of law until the start of 2000 when he became a member of this firm where his practice has been limited to the representation of individuals seeking disability insurance throughout their dealing with the Social Security Administration and in appeals of adverse decisions to the Federal District Court. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and is a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives (NOSSCR).

Attorney Anna Illinois
Lawyer Anna IL

Brad Sherrill

Brad Sherrill graduated from Southern Illinois University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration.  He enrolled at Saint Louis University School of Law in 2004 and graduated in 2007.  Licensed to practice law in Illinois since 2007, Mr. Sherrill initially focused his practice on criminal defense, family law, and probate.  After joining Murray, Rose & Associates in 2012 Mr. Sherrill has concentrated solely on Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claims.  Mr. Sherrill has the experience and expertise to represent claimants for the duration of their claims, including appeals filed in the Federal District Court.

Testimonials

Our Solutions Overview

  • Personal Solutions – Eligibility for SSI and SSDI claims is determined by a variety of relevant factors such as past work, age, education, and income. The legal team at Murray, Rose & Associates offers years of experience and training to help you make your decision in this matter.
  • Comprehensive Legal Support – Cases do not always fall into neat categories. Many times, more than one area of expertise is required for thorough representation. To that end, our office can advocate for you in many areas of SSI and SSDI law.
  • Knowledge of Current Law – Our system of laws is always changing which is why our legal team consistently stays at the forefront, keeping up with these changes to offer the best advice to our clients. We are fully committed to the notion of exceeding our clients’ expectations.
  • Diverse Experience – Our clients come from a wide variety of backgrounds and situations and we have the ability and experience to serve them all! We value each and every client that steps into our office, as each relationship expands our knowledge and expertise.
  • Advantage of Repeat Clients – Many of our clients have been so satisfied with our representation that they have consistently returned to us for further counsel and representation. We strive to earn the loyalty of everyone we serve!
  • Goals – Helping our clients receive fair benefits for their claim is the only goal our law office possesses. We are available for advice or to answer questions Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and financing is available. Call or schedule an appointment today – there is no fee for initial consultations!

Why Do I Need Legal Help?

It is true that filing an initial application for Social Security disability benefits can be done by anyone. However, after the initial filing, the disability process gets very complex very quickly. In fact, the majority of claims get denied at the initial level. Without experienced representation to help you during this complicated process, your chances of getting the benefits you need can be greatly diminished.

  • Most initial applications are denied – As previously stated, denials occur often at the application stage. Over 70% of initial applications are denied and the reasons for these denials can often be unclear. Effective legal representation can help prevent and counter these denials.
  • There are several appeal levels – Each appeal level has its own paperwork requirements and time constraints. Any mistakes or oversights in these matters can damage your case. Let our knowledgeable attorneys keep your case within the appropriate guidelines.
  • Once there is a denial, you need an advocate – The average person will have difficulty determining why their application or appeal has been denied or knowing what legal arguments to make to resolve the issue. Our team has the knowledge and experience to properly advise you when these denials occur.
  • Red tape can be difficult to navigate – The Social Security disability benefits application process is intentionally complicated in order to weed out false claims or those that would try to abuse the system. For that reason, you will not get much help from the Social Security Administration. Our law office is dedicated to fighting for your rights.
  • You are entitled to legal representation – Many applicants worry that obtaining a lawyer may frustrate the Social Security Administration who, in turn, will make their case more difficult. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your case will most likely get better treatment with representation and the SSA’s own statistics show that you’ll have a better chance of a successful claim with legal assistance.
  • The legal process is complex – Most laws will be difficult for laypeople to understand simply because they are written in difficult language often utilizing intricate, specialized terminology. For this reason, you should trust our law office – we know how to translate these laws into easily digestible explanations, so you will know exactly what is happening at every turn.
  • Your case may end up in federal court – It is not uncommon for Social Security disability cases to end up before a Federal District Court. When this happens, you will want a knowledgeable legal team on your side. More specifically, you’ll want a team that is been with you from the very start of your claim.
  • Experience matters – Through all the above, it is easy to see how complex and specialized Social Security disability is. Murray, Rose & Associates has vast experience in this area and is proud to represent local clients. Social Security disability cases are all we handle, and we are committed to making the claim process go smoothly with the most favorable outcome possible.

Frequently Asked Social Security Disability Questions

Do I have to pay income tax on my social security benefits?
It is possible, however, less than 1/3 of current beneficiaries do. If you file a federal tax return as an individual and your total income is more than $25,000 or if you file a joint return and you and your spouse have a total income over $32,000, you will have to pay taxes on your benefits. For more information, you can contact the IRS and request IRS Publication Number 915: Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits.

How much can I earn and still receive social security disability benefits?
“Work incentives” are special rules established to help people keep their benefits and Medicare while testing their ability to work. In one example of these rules in action, there exists a trial work period during which you could receive your full disability benefits, regardless of what you earn, so long as you report your work activity and continue to have your disabling impairment. This trial work period will continue until nine months of work “services” have accumulated (“services” being defined as work in which you earn more than a pre-determined amount). When this trial period ends, your benefits will stop for months in which your earnings are at a level that the SSA deems “substantial” (another pre-determined amount set by the SSA). For an additional 36 months after the trial work period, your benefits can resume if your earnings fall below the “substantial” level and you still have your impairment.

How long does it take to receive a decision on whether I have been found disabled?
You’ll receive an initial decision on your claim within 3 to 5 months. This varies depending on the nature of your disability, how quickly your medical information reaches the SSA, any medical exams that are deemed necessary, and whether your claim is randomly chosen for a quality assurance review. If your initial decision is unfavorable, you will file a “Request for Reconsideration” and a second decision will take approximately another 3 to 6 months. If you are denied once again, your next appeal is a “Request for Hearing,” which can take up to 2 years before your case is heard. Timely and accurate filing at every step of the process is also important for receiving swift resolutions.

Is there a limit on how long I can receive disability benefits?
No. As long as your medical condition does not improve and you cannot work, you will receive disability benefits. There are periodic reviews of disability cases to ensure you consistently meet disability requirements. If you reach retirement age while still receiving disability benefits, they will be converted to retirement benefits.

Will I automatically receive Medicare if I am receiving disability benefits?
After receiving disability benefits for two years, SSA will automatically enroll you in Medicare (this will be counted from the month you were entitled, not necessarily the month you received your first check). Medicare is made up of two parts, hospital insurance, and medical insurance. Hospital insurance helps cover hospital bills and some follow-up care. This coverage is financed by taxes paid while you were working, so it is premium free. Medical insurance helps with doctors’ bills and other services and you’ll have to pay a monthly premium if you want it. Those receiving SSI benefits may be eligible to receive Medicaid coverage as soon as they are determined to be disabled and entitled to SSI benefits without a 24-month waiting period.