HOW A DISABILITY LAWYER WORKS

What can a disability lawyer/advocate do to help you get benefits quicker?

Taking on the Social Security Administration by yourself is an overwhelming job. A good advocate or attorney can not be a great help in handling the mountain of work, but also increases you chance of success. So, what will your lawyer (also called a "representative") do for you?

• Fully review your case: Advocates know what the SSA is looking for within applications. When working with a disability lawyer, the attorney will fully review your case from start to finish, regardless of where you are in the claims process. Your lawyer will then determine the best approach for moving forward.

• Ensure your application is complete: The majority of applications are denied the first time around, and many times, this is due to an incomplete or inaccurate application. An attorney/advocate will ensure your application includes all the necessary information.

• Gather and organize medical evidence: Medical evidence is crucial to any SSDI claim. An attorney will ensure your medical records are complete and will sort through hundreds of pages to determine which are the most important to include. Your disability lawyer will also work with your healthcare providers to obtain letters of support for your application. Just reading and making notes on your medical records can take weeks of hard work.

• Communicate with the SSA: The SSA receives thousands of applications for SSDI every year. The application process is complex and includes various deadlines and formalities. This is often overwhelming for individuals who are just trying to receive benefits they desperately need. A Social Security lawyer will communicate with SSA and always keep you informed of the status of your application.

• File appeals: Fewer than 30 percent of SSDI applications are approved the first time around. If your application is denied, you do have the right to appeal it. However, there are many different steps in the appeals process, and they all have different deadlines. A Social Security attorney will ensure you stay within these deadlines and help you navigate the entire complex system. When your day in court rolls around, your advocate will sit beside you to handle complex legalities and protect your rights. By the way, your odds of winning that the hearing are about 50/50, according to national data. At our firm, we have improved those odds and win more than 50 percent of the claims we represent.

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