While you are not required to have legal representation for a disability case, statistics have shown that those who hire a Social Security Attorney have a higher likelihood of approval for benefits, especially when the claim reaches the hearing level. If you decide that you want to hire a lawyer, there are some things that you should remember to find the right attorney for your particular situation, which are highlighted here. Courtesy and Professionalism When you call a lawyer you are considering using, you should pay close attention to the level of professionalism and the treatment that they give, both by the attorney, as well as their staff. While a disability firm is typically going to be a busy place, you should still be able to be called back in a timely manner and be given ample opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Access to the Attorney You should not be put off if you are not able to speak to the lawyer the first time you call an office, or if the person answering the phone asks you to talk with a different staff member. This is because any reputable disability attorney will spend their time in hearings, which means they rely on the expertise of their staff to handle any calls coming into the office. However, any reputable firm should provide you with a free consultation with the actual attorney. Outcome Promises It is unfair and unethical for any attorney to guarantee that they will get your claim approved. The fact is there are no guarantees in any legal situation. A reputable attorney will provide you with an honest evaluation of your situation, but only after they have had a chance to carefully review all the facts. A quality attorney...

If you have health complications that have kept you from working and being able to maintain a job, you may be eligible for SSDI Insurance, (Social Security Disability Insurance). SSDI benefits are paid monthly to individuals who are no longer capable of working because of an impairment or illness. You are only eligible for SSDI if your impairment causes you to be unable to work for over a year or more, or could cause death within one year. Benefits that you may receive are all based on your past earnings. In order to be provided this type of Social Security benefit, you must also have worked jobs that paid in to Social Security. Find Out If You Are Eligible for SSDI Benefits The best way to find out if you are eligible for SSDI benefits is to contact a professional disability attorney that is currently active. The Social Security Administration has many strict rules and regulations in place that make it very difficult to become eligible for SSDI. You must be deemed unable to work or sustain gainful employment due to a mental or medically determined physical impairment that could result in your death, or impairment for the durations of twelve months. You must also not be able to sustain any type of previous employment, or future employment in consideration of your age, work experience, and education. Understanding Federal Guidelines In order to determine the amount of SSDI in which you are eligible, there are Federal guidelines in place that help state agencies make these determinations. They are based on whether an applicant meets the vocational and medical guidelines in place concerning disability law. Your work history, age, education, and medical records are all used to determine the amount of SSDI you could receive....

It can be difficult trying to decide if you should try to handle your disability claim alone. Sure you can fill in the application and follow the guidelines to turn it in. It all seems like an easy process. However, even the slightest error can cause your claim to be denied during the initial process. You do not want to risk being denied continually. When you hire a disability claim lawyer they are able to help you during the application process, file appeals and represent you in court during a hearing. Ensure Your Disability Case is Developed Properly Since most claims will end up going to court, it is imperative that your disability case is developed properly. A claimant does not have the proper knowledge to prepare their own case. In order to have a better chance of winning your claimant case, you need the knowledge and skill of an experienced disability attorney. It can be difficult understanding what is expected from an administrative law judge. They alone are capable of approving your claim or denying it. Well-seasoned disability attorneys know what to expect in court and how to represent their clients in front of an administrative law judge. They can build your case so it is properly represented in court. Make sure that your case gets all of the attention it deserves when you use the legal services of an active attorney that understands Social Security regulations and rules. Use a Disability Lawyer that Understands Your Medical Condition Attorneys that specialize in disability cases for your specific medical condition are more capable of representing you in court. They will know ahead of time the type of questions that will be asked by an administrative law judge concerning your exact medical condition. When an...

When an individual reaches retirement age or is classified as disabled the government has a program that provides some financial support, the program is Social Security. There are very few problems when it comes time to apply for the retirement benefits, it is a matter of providing your social security number and few pertinent details, in about three months the benefits will start arriving and they will continue to arrive every month. Unfortunately applying for Social Security disability benefits is far more complex and many applicants turn to a social security lawyer for help. For those who have not yet reached retirement age but can prove beyond a doubt that they are either mentally or physically disabled and cannot work may be eligible to collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Should the application be approved the disabled individual will also receive a monthly payment, the amount of the payment is dependent on the amount of money the person earned during the working life. There has to be complete documentation that the applicant has earned enough credits to benefit from the program, if they don’t they are sometimes eligible for a fixed monthly amount of SSI, supplemental security income. There really is little reason for the average individual to know much about the social security system other than what benefits are available; rarely would a person be aware of what the criteria is for these benefits. The truth is, even when an application is made with the assistance of a social security lawyer the application is denied almost three quarters of the time. When the claimant is denied benefit and has the lawyer accompany him or her to the appeals hearing the numbers are quite different, about two thirds of the appeals are approved. Having...

Don’t be discouraged if you apply for social security disability benefits and the application is denied, you are among the 70 to 75 percent who are in the same boat. There is no reason to be overly concerned with an initial denial; the process is such that there is a refined appeals process. In many cases an appeal that is heard by a judge will be approved, especially if the disability appeal is made with the assistance of an attorney. In the case of disability appeals that are handled by an attorney about 66 percent are approved even though the initial claim was denied. There is a set time for making an appeal, if an appeal is not made within this time frame the chance for any future appeal will be lost and a completely new application for benefits will have to be made, this is a terrible waste of time and resources and in many cases can result in back payments considerably less than what they could have been if the appeal was done timely. Although there is an approval process for disability benefits, should the application be approved the payment date starts on the date of the application, not the date of the approval. In most jurisdictions the first step in disability appeals is reconsideration. By this time the applicant should be represented by an attorney who is well versed in social security matters. When your application is denied you have 60 days to file for reconsideration. The reconsideration haring can be either formal or simply an informal meeting to discuss your case with a representative from Social Security. Within three to four months of the reconsideration conference you can expect a written decision, if the claim is denied again then the...

Before you talk to Social Security lawyers about your case you should first understand the pros and cons; the costs and benefits of having such lawyers on your side. The costs are easy to calculate as the fee they lawyers can charge is mandated by Federal law and is the lesser of 25 percent of the benefit back pay or $6,000. In the majority of cases little money, if any, will have to be paid up front as most Social Security lawyers work on contingency, you only pay when they are successful in winning your case. There are many benefits to hiring Social Security lawyers; it is worth looking at some in further detail. One must also consider at what stage of the claims process you should call for legal assistance. Why hire Social Security lawyers? The most pressing need that will point your towards a disability lawyer is the fact that your chances of being approved are drastically increased. Certainly there are people who make the application on behalf of themselves and gain approval but the truth is, about 75 percent of the applications that are made are denied. Social Security and disability lawyers understand the complexities of case presentation; they know how to put the case to the Administration in such a way to get the most favorable ruling for the client. The initial application is important, it is here that you provide such pertinent details as when the disability started and argue that your case meets the criteria of impairments listed in the SSA “Blue Book.” When the case reaches the reconciliation and hearing levels the lawyer can provide the pertinent medical information and support this with an opinion from your doctor. The lawyer can provide a detailed brief for the...