When you’ve been disabled, you deserve help. Unfortunately, you may have to fight for it.
Nine million Americans receive Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) admits that this is a small subset of Americans who live with disabilities.
One reason the number is so low is that millions of claims get denied. Claimants go to their disability hearings without legal representation, and they get denied the money that they need.
Getting a Social Security disability lawyer is essential if you want the help you deserve. Here is a quick guide on what a lawyer does.
The Basics of a Disability Claim
When you file a disability claim with the SSA, you engage in a long process. You have to complete and submit a lengthy application.
You must meet a series of requirements. Your condition must be severe. You must be unable to complete basic work for at least 12 months.
Your medical condition must meet the SSA’s list of disabling conditions. While having your condition, you must be unable to perform any type of work. If you can perform any work at all, your claim will be denied.
Some people request a hearing after getting denied. This allows them to make their case in front of a judge.
But the SSA prepares a thorough case to deny access to benefits. Most people who request a hearing and don’t have legal representation lose.
What a Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Do
You can talk to a lawyer as soon as you get the paperwork for your application. You can review the application with them, working over your answers. They can fact-check your medical and personal information to avoid a denial.
Lawyers can talk to the SSA and submit information about your case. This keeps you from having to wait in line. They can review your file to make sure all information is with them.
Your lawyers can talk to your doctors. They can gather medical records and employment documents, describing the nature of your disability. They can put into concrete words how your disability has impacted your ability to work.
If the SSA denies your claim, your lawyers will represent you in a hearing. They will develop your case, considering relevant laws. They will talk to the judge and SSA attorney about the rules for the hearing.
Your lawyers will cross-examine the Vocational Expert, who gives their testimony on the nature of your disability. They will support your claim and defend your condition.
Attorney fees are very reasonable. You do not pay fees unless you win. Attorneys take a fee off your back reward, usually around 25 percent.
Do You Need a Lawyer for Social Security Disability?
You do not have to hire a Social Security disability lawyer. But you should.
The application process is long and difficult. The SSA has a very strict definition of disability, requiring you to acknowledge that you cannot perform any type of work.
A lawyer will work with you on your application to ensure everything makes sense. They will take the time to file paperwork and talk to your doctor. They will defend you during hearings, allowing you to cross-examine the SSA’s experts.
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