finding a lawyer who specializes with social path

by Dr. Karlee Rolfson IV 8 min read

How do I choose a social security lawyer?

Be sure to identify lawyers with special knowledge and expertise in Social Security claims and know their way around the system. Make sure the lawyer you choose has a solid reputation, track record, and ethical grounding. Before even looking for a lawyer, know the basics of Social Security.

Can I afford a Social Security disability attorney or advocate?

Those who have a disability advocate or a Social Security Disability attorney representing them are much more likely to have their claim approved. You may be concerned about affording an attorney or advocate to represent you throughout the disability claims process. Disability attorneys and advocates take cases on the contingency basis.

Can the special needs alliance help me find a lawyer?

The Special Needs Alliance itself cannot offer any legal advice. We invite you to use the member directory to find attorneys in your area who can answer your questions. Find an Special Needs Attorney by State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana

What does a social security lawyer do?

Social Security lawyers most often help clients get disability benefits in the form of SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). These lawyers can also offer help with Social Security Retirement and Survivors Benefits claims.

How much do lawyers charge for Social Security?

What happens if you get nothing from a lawyer?

What to do if you can't resolve a Social Security claim?

Can a lawyer guarantee you will win?

Can lawyers speed up the process?

Can I get Social Security if I can't work?

See more

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Find the best Social Security & Disability lawyer near you - Avvo

FREE detailed reports on 9706 Social Security & Disability Attorneys. Find 25130 reviews, disciplinary sanctions, and peer endorsements.

Browse Social Security Attorneys & Law Firms Near You | Lawyers.com

Find a local Social Security attorney in your state. Our client reviews, law firm profiles, and live chat make it easy to find the best Social Security lawyer for you.

Best Social Security Disability Lawyers Near Me - Attorney Ratings ...

Social Security disability cases can be denied for several reasons. If the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your claim, it may be because you did not earn enough work credits to qualify, do not qualify under an exception, or your medical condition is not considered disabling.

Social Security Lawyer - Social Security Attorney, Law Firm Directory ...

Use the largest online Social Security lawyers directory to quickly find detailed profiles of attorneys and law firms in your area.

Finding a Lawyer to Help Fight a Social Security Overpayment ...

Some disability attorneys may be willing to help you appeal a Social Security Overpayment or get an overpayment waiver or repayment plan.

Top Rated Social Security Disability Lawyers by Location

Find a local Social Security Disability attorney in your state. Our client reviews, law firm profiles, and live chat make it easy to find the best Social Security Disability lawyer for you.

How to Find an Attorney by Specialty

Some areas of law are more complex than others. There are many instances in which it’s preferable to find someone who spends the majority of his time focused on certain areas of law as opposed to just handling them occasionally.

How to Choose the Right Attorney

Now that you understand some of the main categories, it’s time to decide which type of attorney you need to work with. Once you’re clear on that point, you can start your search.

Ask for Referrals

Always ask friends or family who has been in similar situations if they’d use the same lawyer again or recommend them to others. You can learn a lot about what it’s like to work with a particular practice from someone else’s experiences, especially when it comes to timeliness and communication.

Talk to Other Lawyers

Do you happen to know another lawyer who simply doesn’t practice in the area of law you need help in? Ask if they know anyone who can help. Lawyers will gladly make referrals to their peers if they are confident in their abilities.

Take Advantage of Free Consultations

While some specialists do charge for consultations, many (especially personal injury lawyers) will offer free consultations. Think of your consultation like an interview. Find out how much experience they have with your type of case, how often they go to court, and what their track record is in terms of wins and losses.

How much do lawyers charge for Social Security?

Lawyers take their fees from any retroactive benefits you’re awarded from Social Security. The fee is limited to 25% of your past-due benefits , up to a maximum of $6,000. 1.

What happens if you get nothing from a lawyer?

Because the lawyer will likely have to request medical, school, work, and psychological records that come with a cost, they might pass on that fee to you. This should be a couple of hundred dollars at most.

What to do if you can't resolve a Social Security claim?

If you have a Social Security dispute that you can’t resolve on your own, finding a lawyer can be the next step. Since you may not have a lot of experience looking for lawyers—particularly lawyers specializing in Social Security—we put together a guide to help you find the right one for your case.

Can a lawyer guarantee you will win?

Just like lawyers can’t speed up the process, they also can’t guarantee that you’ll win. With the help of a good lawyer, you’ll up your chances of winning, but lawyers can’t ethically say that they will win your case for you. If they do, that’s probably a lawyer to avoid.

Can lawyers speed up the process?

Just like lawyers can’t speed up the process, they also can’t guarantee that you’ll win.

Can I get Social Security if I can't work?

If you do qualify, you can get monthly benefits checks only if you are unable to work for at least one year because of a disability. 2. If you paid into the system in the past, you can't work for at least a year, and still didn't receive your benefits checks, your disagreement with Social Security probably stems from whether your medical condition ...

What a Social Security lawyer can do for you

Social Security lawyers are most often retained to help disabled people get Social Security Disability (SSDI and SSI) benefits. These attorneys also help with issues related to Social Security retirement and survivors’ benefits.

Why hire a Social security attorney

Social Security lawyers most often help clients get disability benefits in the form of SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). These lawyers can also offer help with Social Security Retirement and Survivors Benefits claims.

What to do if you have an attorney on disability?

If an attorney represented you at an earlier stage in your disability case, you should consider contacting that person to see if he or she can help you with your overpayment. The attorney will already be familiar with you and your disability case, and might be more willing to help you than an attorney who did not have a relationship with you.

Where do attorneys hold their retainers?

Attorneys must hold their retainers in special bank accounts called client trust accounts. After the attorney has completed all of the work on your case, he will submit a petition to Social Security to review the fee agreement and approve his fee. Once Social Security approves the fee (or modifies it), the attorney can take money to pay ...

How long does it take for a Social Security attorney to return money?

If he spends less than 15 hours, he will return money from your retainer to you at the end of the case. Attorneys in Social Security overpayment cases are conscious that their clients are usually lower-income individuals due to their disability, and they know that it might be hard for the client to pay the attorney's bill. ...

What is legal aid?

Legal Aid attorneys work for non-profit law firms whose goal is to provide free legal advice and representation to low-income individuals in civil cases. (A civil case is any kind of case that does not involve a crime. Disability cases are civil cases.) Legal Aid attorneys may be more likely to take overpayment cases than some disability lawyers, ...

Do disability attorneys overpay Social Security?

Getting Social Security to approve the fee is an additional step that some disability attorneys do not want to bother with, and so they just decide that they will not do overpayment cases.

Can a disability attorney take overpayment cases?

If you are looking for an attorney to represent you in your Social Security overpayment case, you will find that many disability attorneys do not take overpayment cases. The reason has to do with Social Security's rules about how attorneys get paid.

Do lawyers take overpayments?

When attorneys do take overpayment cases, they will usually have you sign a fee petition agreeing to pay an hourly fee for the time that they spend working on your case. Then, when the case is over, the lawyer has to petition Social Security to approve the fee. Social Security will consider a number of factors when deciding whether ...

Who is more likely to have disability claims approved?

A study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that individuals who were represented by an attorney or an advocate were three times more likely to have their disability claim approved than those who represent themselves.

What to do if you are unable to work?

If you are unable to work and are seeking disability benefits, there are many ways that a lawyer can help your claim. First off, the key to a successful case is hard medical evidence and other supporting documentation that proves your condition is so limiting you are unable to work.

Is the Blue Book written for disability?

The Blue Book can be difficult to understand as it is written for medical professionals or disability advocates. The need for a Social Security disability lawyer arises when your initial claim for Social Security Disability is denied. It is at this point that you should consider hiring an attorney to represent your interests.

Can an attorney represent you at a hearing?

An attorney can represent you at this hearing and will be able to help you prepare for questioning at the hearing. An attorney will be able to determine what kinds of questions you will be asked and will be able to help you determine the best way to proceed with your claim.

Do disability attorneys get paid?

Disability attorneys and advocates take cases on the contingency basis. This means that your advocate or lawyer isn ’t paid until your claim is approved and you get disability benefits.

How much do lawyers charge for Social Security?

Lawyers take their fees from any retroactive benefits you’re awarded from Social Security. The fee is limited to 25% of your past-due benefits , up to a maximum of $6,000. 1.

What happens if you get nothing from a lawyer?

Because the lawyer will likely have to request medical, school, work, and psychological records that come with a cost, they might pass on that fee to you. This should be a couple of hundred dollars at most.

What to do if you can't resolve a Social Security claim?

If you have a Social Security dispute that you can’t resolve on your own, finding a lawyer can be the next step. Since you may not have a lot of experience looking for lawyers—particularly lawyers specializing in Social Security—we put together a guide to help you find the right one for your case.

Can a lawyer guarantee you will win?

Just like lawyers can’t speed up the process, they also can’t guarantee that you’ll win. With the help of a good lawyer, you’ll up your chances of winning, but lawyers can’t ethically say that they will win your case for you. If they do, that’s probably a lawyer to avoid.

Can lawyers speed up the process?

Just like lawyers can’t speed up the process, they also can’t guarantee that you’ll win.

Can I get Social Security if I can't work?

If you do qualify, you can get monthly benefits checks only if you are unable to work for at least one year because of a disability. 2. If you paid into the system in the past, you can't work for at least a year, and still didn't receive your benefits checks, your disagreement with Social Security probably stems from whether your medical condition ...

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