The Benefits of Having a Social Security Disability Lawyer

Photo by Melinda Gimpel

Social security is a benefit that many people in the working stage of their career look forward to. Yet, sometimes situations may arise where you experience an unexpected disability. This could cause you to use social security much sooner than you expected.

There are almost 36 million adults living with a disabling condition. So it is safe to say the use of social security disability benefits is common. But, those who actually qualify and then receive benefits is a completely different story.

If you or a loved one has become disabled you may want to consider hiring a social security disability lawyer. Filing for social security benefits is not a simple process.

It can be helpful to know what your next steps should be. So, we wanted to share information about the benefits of having a social security lawyer. By the end of this article, you will know why you should consider hiring one.

A social security disability lawyer is someone who specializes in handling disability cases. An SSI lawyer can provide the Social Security Administration with the right information. This type of lawyer is skilled in handling the many aspects of filing for disability benefits.

Your lawyer will act as the middle person between you and the Social Security Administration. When you apply for disability benefits it can be a long and drawn-out process. Your disability lawyer will be knowledgeable about how to complete the application on time.

A Social Security disability lawyer is also someone who understands what the SSA is looking for. That means they understand the legal jargon of the Social Security Administration. They will be able to help communicate your needs as well as help you understand certain terms and phrases used by the SSA.

One of the main benefits of having a social security disability lawyer is having someone who knows how to handle your case. This can make all the difference in getting your case approved.

The reason being, the Social Security Administration has approved more cases for those who had legal counsel.

Another benefit of having a disability lawyer is that if you handled your case on your own before and were denied. Disability lawyers are experts. They can help with your appeal.

There are various phases in the appeal process for SSI benefits. Having an attorney can make the process much easier. They can also let you know what to do at each phase of the process.

A social security disability lawyer will also know how to present your case to the SSA. This means no matter the stage you are in a lawyer can provide advice. Your lawyer can help you fill out the application properly reducing the chances of it being denied.

You can also benefit from a great disability lawyer because they will let you know what arguments you need to make in your case. For example, your lawyer can help you describe your condition.

They can help you show how your disability, matches the list of impairments written by the Social Security Administration.

Your lawyer will help you present the facts of your case in a way that can persuade the SSA to rule in your favor. Again, even if you are past the initial application phase and in the appeal phase a disability lawyer can help you.

A disability lawyer is also able to collect and submit medical evidence that supports your claim. They have the ability to get your doctor’s input quickly speeding up the overall process. Which could help you get your disability benefits much faster.

When choosing an SSI lawyer there are a few things that you want to consider. First, you want to make sure that your lawyer is experienced and reliable. A lawyer is an investment and you want to make sure you are choosing a good one.

As a best practice, you want to do some research on your lawyer. A quick internet search could help you see what others have said about the lawyer you are looking to hire. Checking the references of your potential lawyer is a must.

Most reputable disability lawyers will want to share this information to earn your business. Another thing to consider when choosing a disability lawyer is to make sure they are able to represent you.

There have been instances where lawyers have been suspended or disqualified from representing people by the SSA. Before hiring a disability attorney make sure they are legit. You also want to take note of a lawyer’s level of customer service and professionalism.

This speaks volumes about what they can do for you in your case. An extra thing to consider when choosing an SSI lawyer is what experience they have with your disability. Some disability cases are harder to win.

This is especially true when it comes to a mental disability. Talking to a lawyer about their methods for handling cases like yours can be a good sign of whether you should choose them.

When asking yourself if you need a disability lawyer you want to ask yourself does your disability qualify. The Social Security Administration has a specific definition of disability.

You must be unable to engage in activities that are gainful for medical reasons. It is also stated that the medical impairment can be expected to result in death or last for a continuous period.

Think about it like this. Are you unable to do the work you once were? This can be a good place to start to see if your disability qualifies.

This period of time has to be more than 12 months. Your medical reasons can be physical or mental. If you are unsure how to answer this question, then it may not be the right time to seek help from a lawyer.

Yet, if you know your disability qualifies there are other instances where you should seek representation. One is the initial application. Most disability attorneys provide free legal consultation.

This can help you determine if your case is worth hiring a lawyer. If you are in the appeal stages you could very well need a disability lawyer to help you build a stronger case. Another reason you could need a disability lawyer is to reduce the duration of your case.

If you have been dealing with the disability benefits process for an extended period of time, a disability lawyer could help you.

There have been instances where they help move your case through the system faster. If you feel like all your options have been exhausted in your disability case you would want to speak with a lawyer.

One last reason you may need a disability lawyer if you have been awarded any disability benefits. The SSI will need continual updates on your disability. To keep receiving your benefits a lawyer can help complete the paperwork for this.

If you are uncomfortable doing this yourself you would need a social security disability lawyer.

As with any legal representation, there is a cost associated with it. Disability lawyers are no expectation. It is important to note that the cost of hiring a Social Security disability lawyer depends on three factors.

The first factor is where you are in your filing process. If you are approved in the initial application stage without a lawyer that’s good for you. The reason being there is less back pay owed to you which means a smaller percentage for your lawyer.

The second factor that affects the cost of a disability lawyer is how much your case is approved for. Your lawyer can not charge you a fee of more than 25% of your past-due benefits or more than $6000. The amount will be whichever is less.

The third factor is disability lawyers do not get any payment unless they win your case. This can reassure you that your disability lawyer has an incentive to help you put the best case forward. After all, that is how they get paid.

A social security disability lawyer can be such a valuable asset. A lawyer can make all the difference in the case. Give yourself the best chance of receiving your social security disability benefits.

Contact our team of dedicated and experienced lawyers. We know how to work hard on behalf of our clients. Don’t wait. Begin the process of getting the benefits you deserve.