FIRST.— You’re sick or you’ve had an accident, and you can’t work

Social Security is required to recognize your disability and pay you a benefit. But more often than not, they put up obstacles: they discharge you before you’ve actually recovered, they deny permanent disability, or they recognize a lower degree than the one you’re entitled to.

SECOND.— Common problems

• You’re medically discharged before you’ve actually recovered
• Permanent disability is denied
• You’re recognized at a lower degree than you’re entitled to
• You’re dismissed while on medical leave — depending on the length of the leave and the circumstances, this can make the dismissal void, not just unfair

THIRD.— What I can do for you

I can review your case and tell you honestly whether it holds up. If it’s a highly technical Social Security matter that calls for a different specialist, I’ll tell you straight and refer you to someone I trust. What I won’t do is take on a case I don’t know well and handle it badly.

There are deadlines here too, and they run out — both for challenging an INSS (Social Security) decision and for contesting a dismissal that happened during medical leave. Don’t let time pass without checking it out.