how to find a social security lawyer

by Ashlynn Doyle 7 min read

How To Find A Social Security Lawyer In Colorado Springs

  • Not Employed by Social Security. The federal laws say you are entitled to benefits even if you have not been employed by Social Security.
  • Advice From Friends. When you see a lawyer, he will ask for information on you and your Social Security information. ...
  • Interview Your Lawyer. When you decide on a lawyer, make sure you interview them. ...

Full Answer

How do I find a Social Security disability lawyer?

Sep 30, 2021 · You can find Social Security disability lawyers in a variety of ways. The internet has plenty of lawyer referral sites. Legal aid clinics and referral services operated by …

How does a Social Security Attorney get paid?

A Social Security Disability attorney will ensure that you have a fair hearing and that you are asked all of the questions you should be asked during this process. It is important, however, that you choose a lawyer who is familiar with Social Security disability laws and what it takes to get a SSI or SSDI claim approved.

Why should I hire a Social Security disability attorney?

Browse Social Security Attorneys & Law Firms Near You | Lawyers.com Lawyers.com Find a US Lawyer Social Security Lawyers Top Rated Social Security Lawyers by Location Search by States Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine

Do disability lawyers take Social Security overpayment cases?

Social Security Disability attorneys can do the following: If the claimant has been denied the Social Security Disability lawyer can review the initial SSDI or SSI application to ensure it was accurate and complete. Gather and review the claimant s medical information. Make sure the Claimant s most recent medical Information has been sent to ...

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How Disability Attorneys Get Paid

There are two ways for Social Security attorneys to get paid: fee agreements and fee petitions. Fee petitions are used for overpayment cases.

Retainer Fees For Overpayment Cases

When attorneys take Social Security overpayment cases, they will almost always ask you to pay a retainer fee upfront before they will start work. A...

Should You Hire An Attorney For An Overpayment Case?

An attorney can help you by filing an overpayment waiver request, appealing the denial of a waiver request, or negotiating a repayment plan.But eve...

How to Find An Attorney Who Will Take An Overpayment Case

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...

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.

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

What happens if you lose your Social Security case?

That is, if you lose your case, you will owe your attorney $3,000 in fees (if Social Security approves the request), and you will still owe the overpayment. On the other hand, if Social Security says you owe a $160,000 overpayment, and your attorney will charge you a $3,000 retainer to begin working on it, then you might decide ...

How much do disability attorneys charge?

Usually, a disability attorney will enter into a fee agreement with you to take 25% of your disability backpay or $6,000 , whichever is less. Then, when the case is over, if you have won, Social Security forwards the attorney's fee to your attorney.

What is retainer fee?

A retainer represents an estimate of the number of hours it might take the attorney to work on your case. For example, if an attorney thought it would take him 15 hours to handle your overpayment case, and his usual rate is $200 per hour, then he might decide to charge you a $3,000 retainer fee before beginning work on your case (15 hours x $200).

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, ...

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 you need an attorney to apply for social security disability benefits?

Although you don’t necessarily need an attorney to apply for social security disability benefits, we strongly advise that you reach out to a professional before even submitting your application. Applying for benefits is not a quick or straightforward process.

How a social security disability attorney can help

When initially applying for your SSDI benefits, your social security disability attorney can help you decipher what your alleged onset date (AOD) is, which determines when you were first eligible for benefits. This date can be claimed as far back as 12 months before the date of your application.

What happens during the SSDI application process?

The first step when filing for your SSDI is to fill out the initial application. With the help of an attorney, you can be sure that your information is valid and that there are no minor mistakes that could possibly get your case denied. If you’re accepted, you can expect to start receiving your benefits in the first couple of months post-approval.

How long does it take to get social security disability benefits with a lawyer?

The path to benefits is a lengthy one. After your initial application is sent to the Social Security Administration, government data suggests that the average wait time to receive a decision is about three and a half months.

How much does a social security disability attorney cost?

In most cases, you will not need to pay your social security attorney unless you are awarded your benefits. In order to charge you after you’ve won your case, your representation first needs to file a fee agreement with the SSA.

How to find a social security disability attorney who will fight for you

It is of utmost importance to find a local disability attorney that you trust and respect. You’ll want to make sure you feel that there is an open line of communication that can be reached at any point during your process. Your SSDI attorney’s genuine and caring attitude can be just as important as their experience and knowledge.

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