Get To Know Our Attorney, Kyle H. Sciolaro
Kyle H. Sciolaro is an attorney at BurnettDriskill Attorneys who specializes in Employment Disability, State and Local Employee Disability, Private Disability.
Law school: University of Kansas.
Undergrad: University of Kansas.
Family: Wife and two cats.
Hobbies: Competitive ballroom dance, chess, neuropsychology, philosophy, and Smash Ultimate.
We sat down with Kyle to learn more about what he does and why they are in the business of helping people with various Social Security and disability issues. Here’s what he had to say.
Q. Tell us how you first became interested in practicing (social security/disability) law.
A. After graduating law school, I practiced indigent criminal defense in Wyandotte County, Kansas. After several years, I needed a change. I knew that I wanted to continue helping the disadvantaged, and disability law has been that opportunity.
Q. What are some of the main reasons people need (social security/disability) legal help in the first place?
A. In our ERISA short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD)claims, many clients I represent did not know that they had benefits in the first place. In these claims, knowing where to knock is the first step in helping clients. From there, we aim to provide peace of mind, assist in completing confusing paperwork, and coordinating with medical professionals. STD and LTD claims work a little differently than Social Security disability claims. Most STD and LTD claims are governed by ERISA. ERISA can be tricky and unforgiving, especially in the appeals and litigation stages. I strive to make the entire process more manageable.
Q. If anyone has one of these issues, when should they contact an attorney?
A. It’s never too soon to ask for guidance on how to approach a disability claim. If you enter the claims process informed and prepared, your chances of success will be greater. I routinely consult with individuals who are still working and want to make sure that they are discussing their conditions and treatment appropriately with their medical providers. It is easier to prevent mistakes in disability claims than it is to correct them after they’ve already
been made.
Q. Once someone contacts you, what are the next steps? What does the process look like?
A. With STD and LTD claims, the process depends a lot on what stage (pre-filing, initial claim, appeal, or litigation). But in any case, I get to know my client, their background, their medical circumstances, and their preferences. Sometimes this means quickly setting up a conference. Sometimes it means exchanging detailed emails. Sometimes it’s just several text messages. Flexibility is important.
Q. What general advice do you have for someone who thinks they might need legal help with a (social security/disability) issue?
A. Make your complaints known to your medical providers, even if they aren’t able to make you feel better. An appointment with your doctor can be helpful to your claim even if it is not therapeutically helpful to you at that moment. Similarly, try to get an understanding for how your medical providers view your conditions and whether they are supportive, neutral, or opposed to the disability claims process.