Susan Michele Schaefer

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.

Valparaiso University School of Law

J.D. (1988) | Law

1985 - 1988

Indiana University - Indiana University-Bloomington

B.A. (1984) | English

1980 - 1984

Owner

Cardea Law Group, LLC

2019 - 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

2006 - 2019

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

1991 - 2006

Supervised attorneys and paralegals in Social Security hearing offices.

Trial Attorney

Emerick and Diggins, PC

1988 - 1991

Trial attorney in a general practice law firm.

Helping the homeless and others facing barriers with Social Security Disability applications and claims

National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)

November 16, 2022

Evaluation of Symptoms in Disability Claims, Social Security Ruling 16-3p, Chronic Fatgue Advisory Committee, Washington, D.C.

May 18, 2016

Health and Human Services

Drug Addiction and Alcoholism (DAA) and Disability, National Association of Disability Representatives Conference, Washington, D.C.

March 15, 2014

National Association of Disability Representatives

Accredited Attorney

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

2020

Commissioner’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Medical Policy

Social Security Administration

2016

American Bar Association

Member

Current

Indiana State Bar  # 14112-64

Member

Current

NOSSCR

Member

Current

Alabama State Bar

Member

Current

Alabama

Alabama State Bar Association

ID Number: 9216G15Y

Since 2020

Indiana

Indiana Supreme Court

ID Number: 14112-64

Since 1988

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Accredited

ID Number: https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/accredpeople.asp

Since 2020

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Contingent Fees

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

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

September 1, 2023

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 charge a fee. ... Read More

Q. I have a joint account with my grandma. She's get ssi. Her son is mad I have it. Is her money my money? Technically?

August 18, 2023

A: All the funds your grandma receives from SSI is all hers for basic subsistence and she must not have more than $2,000 in countable resources including savings to continue to be eligible. Technically, having power of attorney, or a joint bank account with the person who is receiving benefits is not the same as being appointed as a representative payee. These arrangements do not give you legal authority to negotiate and manage grandma's SSI benefits. If your grandma cannot manage her own SSI benefits, then Social Security will appoint a representative payee. You or someone else can apply to be her representative payee and be approved for this role. For an overview, see https://www.ssa.gov/payee/faqrep.htm?tl=5.

There is also another important issue and that is the fact that your grandma is in a nursing home. Generally, if a person is in a nursing home or hospital (or other medical facility) where Medicaid pays for more than half of the cost of care, SSI benefit is limited to $30 a month. In some situations, your grandma may not be eligible for any SSI benefit. The only exception is if your grandma will only be in the nursing home for 90 days or less - this is what is called a "temporary institutionalization" benefit. Social Security needs to be informed of this situation immediately to avoid grandma incurring an overpayment. To learn more about SSI rules, go to https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-understanding-ssi.htm. ... Read More

Q. Should my husband apply for disability?

August 17, 2023

A: I encourage your husband to consult with an experienced Social Security disability attorney to discuss his particular situation because disability evaluation is more complicated than just considering a person's medical conditions. Many disability attorneys offer a free initial consultation.

As a general overview, Social Security law defines disability as the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

In evaluating disability, consideration is given to your age, education, past relevant work experience, your impairments, symptoms and side-effects from medications, and functional limitations from your impairments. Social Security uses a five-step process to evaluate disability. See https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1520.htm. Approvals for disability can only be made at steps 3 (Listing of Impairments) and 5 (No other work).

The good news is that a person in the closely approaching retirement age catagory (age 60 or older) is given special consideration under the framework of the Medical-Vocational Guidelines. See https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1563.htm. ... Read More