how can i find a lawyer for a disablity claim

by Kianna Maggio PhD 9 min read

Finding a disability attorney could consist of asking around for referrals, or conducting an internet search. As the disability legal practice is quite broad, there is likely to be ample listings of lawyers in different locations. If you have a disability, you could also be economically limited in your ability to pay for an attorney.

Full Answer

When should I contact a disability lawyer?

Nov 19, 2021 · You can find your local legal aid office in this directory from Legal Services Corporation. If you live near a law school, you could call them to see if they have a disability "clinic" where law students represent disability claimants, although you won't get the benefit of an experienced disability lawyer.

When to hire a disability lawyer?

Dec 21, 2021 · A disability lawyer can help you out with the Social Security Administration when filing for your disability claim. But knowing where to start is a difficult process. LegalMatch has a wide listing of lawyer networks for you to choose from. Click here or call (415) 946 - 3744 to ask for disability lawyers

How do I become a disability lawyer?

Finding a disability advocate or lawyer willing to take your Social Security Disability case should not be a problem. Finding a disability advocate or lawyer that is actually qualified to handle your disability claim can be a little trickier. When retaining the services of a disability lawyer or advocate, you absolutely must ask the right ...

Should I hire a disability lawyer?

Nov 30, 2021 · You can find disability firms in a variety of ways: through a personal recommendation, in a directory, or through a lawyer referral service. If you use a referral service, make sure it guarantees its lawyers are active members of its state's bar in good standing.

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What Should I Look for in a Disability Lawyer?

The first thing you should consider when hiring a disability lawyer is whether the lawyer is qualified in dealing with your type of disability issue. Beyond that, you should consider whether the lawyer is in good standing and is a professional when dealing with your case.

Where Can I Find a Disability Lawyer?

The internet has made it easier to find service providers, like attorneys. The disability legal practice is quite broad so there are likely to be listings of lawyers in different places.

Hiring a Disability Lawyer: What is The Nature Of Your Claim?

As indicated above, disability laws are quite complex and often touch on a variety of other areas of law. So before you hire a lawyer for your disability claim, it’s important to understand the nature of your claim so you find the right one.

Should I Consult With a Lawyer to Help with My Disability Related Lawsuit?

Disability issues can impact different areas of the law so it is important that you find a social security lawyer who can expertly handle all aspects of your case. You might even consider reaching out to some of the free and reduced costs services like local legal clinics and legal aid centers.

What happens if a claim is denied?

After the claim is denied, you will file a request for reconsideration. Upon the reconsideration review, very few claims are approved. After the second denial, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge.

How long does a disability last?

To receive disability, the condition must be expected to last a year or longer or it must be expected to culminate in your death. Disability claims can be complicated, and the odds of having a claim approved aren’t always in the favor of the disabled worker. Those who have a disability advocate or a Social Security Disability attorney representing ...

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.

What happens if you get denied Social Security?

When your initial claim for Social Security disability is denied you will have to go through an appeal process. People who have legal representation at this stage are often more successful in being approved for benefits than those who decide to go on and represent themselves.

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.

How long does it take to get backpay?

You cannot receive backpay for more than 12 months before your application date minus the five-month waiting period. However, it can often take several months to have a disability claim approved and those months are added into the count for backpay.

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.

Here are some easy ways to find a Social Security Disability attorney for help with your case

Having the right help on a Social Security disability case can easily make the difference between winning and losing a claim for benefits, so deciding the issue of legal representation, and which legal representative will handle your SSD or SSI disability case, is no small matter.

Where Can I Find a Good Social Security Disability Lawyer?

Social Security disability representatives can be found in a variety of different listing sources. The Yellow Pages, the Internet, legal aid clinics, and the referral service operated by each state's bar association are often used to locate qualified disability lawyers and attorneys.

How Should I Select the Best Disability Lawyer for Me?

How do you determine whether an attorney disability representative is especially suited to handle your Social Security disability or SSI disability case? Simple. Contact a representative's office and ask questions. First and foremost, ask if the lawyer has experience in winning disability claims for your medical condition.

Disability Lawyers vs. Nonlawyer Representatives

Good representation at the initial application stage and first two levels of appeal can usually be obtained from an attorney or a nonattorney representative (many of whom are former disability examiners and Social Security claims reps). But for an appeal to the Appeals Council, you'll definitely want to hire a lawyer.

What is a disability lawyer?

Your Social Security Disability (SSD) lawyer helps you get the maximum disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). An attorney gathers evidence, submits paperwork, and constructs your claim so it has the greatest chance of a favorable outcome. Once the SSA makes a final decision on your case, ...

What is attorney-client privilege?

Attorney-client privilege laws ensure anything you tell your lawyer remains confidential; Attorneys have more years of education and more thorough training; and. Attorneys can appeal your claim to an even higher court if the need arises. Non-attorney advocates have no standing beyond the Social Security system.

What is a non-attorney advocate?

This is a person who has not been to law school or passed the bar exam, but is legally qualified to represent you at a Social Security disability hearing. The requirements for becoming a non-attorney advocate are as follows:

What to do if your disability is denied?

If your claim gets denied at the initial application stage, you have the right to appeal the SSA’s decision. This is where an experienced disability lawyer can help you too. They can help you navigate the appeals process and file a request for reconsideration.

What happens if you have never applied for disability?

If you’ve never applied for disability benefits, they will assess your eligibility for disability. But if you’ve already been denied, they will look at what went wrong with your application. The information you’ll provide them about your denied disability is essential.

How to explain disability?

After gathering all the information about your disability, they can formulate a theory for why you are disabled. They will then use this theory to argue that: 1 your condition meets a disability listing 2 you cannot go back to your previous work or engage in any substantial gainful activity 3 your “limitations” prevent you from working 4 you cannot even do a sedentary type of work

What is the SSA disability determination process?

The SSA’s disability determinations process uses an evidence-based approach in granting disability benefits. They will want you to prove that your disability really prevents you from going back to work or doing any type of income-generating activity.

Who is Judy Ponio?

Judy Ponio is a writer for Victor Malca Law P.A. and enjoys helping people with questions about social security, workers compensation, and other serious matters involving people’s livelihood. She is not an attorney and her writing should not be considered legal advice.

Who is Victor Malca?

Victor Malca P.A. has over 25 years of litigation experience in Workers Compensation and Social Security Disability lawsuits. His experience and continued success in fighting for his clients puts among the most trusted workers’ compensation lawyers in Florida. Our area of expertise is in representing injured workers on compensation benefit cases and disabled individuals claim social security disability benefits.

What to do if your disability is denied?

In addition, if your claim is denied, you will already have an advocate who is ready to fight for the benefits you deserve.

What is the requirement to become a lawyer?

First, lawyers must graduate from an accredited law school and pass a rigorous state bar exam. In addition, a lawyer is obligated to maintain attorney-client privilege, which means that all of your communication is strictly confidential.

Does the SSA expedite disability claims?

Additionally, there are circumstances wherein the SSA will actually expedite disability claims through its Compassionate Allowances program. Veterans or those with certain medical conditions may qualify for this expedited processing. However, claimants must meet specific requirements and deadlines in order to qualify.

Can a lawyer help with disability?

Therefore, it’s best to consult a lawyer with extensive knowledge of the Social Security system to obtain the best result. Further, a lawyer can help people in other special categories receive disability benefits. This includes those who have visual impairments but do not meet the SSA’s legal definition of blindness.

Is it stressful to be disabled?

Published by The Sam Bernstein Law Firm at June 2, 2020. Few things are more stressful than becoming disabled as the result of an illness or accident. Between coping with a serious health issue and the financial strain of being unable to work, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. You may wonder if you need a lawyer to receive disability benefits.

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