how to find reputable social security disability lawyer

How to Find A Social Security Disability Attorney Near Me

• Ask friends/family for referrals. Talking with people who have gone through similar cases can help you find some...
• Contact your local bar association. Every state has a bar association that can be reached by phone or email. They can...
• Narrow the search to attorneys with “Appellate” experience. While researching,...

Full Answer

How do I find a Social Security disability lawyer?

How to Find the Right Lawyer 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 state bar associations are also sources for the names of people to interview.

Do disability lawyers take Social Security 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. There are two ways for Social Security attorneys to get paid: fee agreements and fee petitions.

Do I need a social security attorney to apply for benefits?

These lawyers can also offer help with Social Security Retirement and Survivors Benefits claims. While it is helpful to hire an Social Security attorney to help apply for disability benefits, a lawyer is most valuable when your disability claim has been denied.

How much does a Social Security disability attorney cost?

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 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.

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 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.

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.

How long can you wait to receive back pay from SSA?

You cannot receive backpay for more than 12 months before your application date minus the five-month waiting period.

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.

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.

Do I need a lawyer for an appeal?

But for an appeal to the Appeals Council, you'll definitely want to hire a lawyer. And since you'll pay a lawyer and a nonlawyer representative the same amount, it can make sense to hire a disability lawyer from the start.

Do lawyers represent Social Security?

First and foremost, ask if the lawyer has experience in winning disability claims for your medical condition. Typically, most lawyers who represent Social Security disability applicants are fairly busy, due to the large number of disability claims moving through the system.

What does a good attorney do?

A good attorney will give you an honest assessment of your case only after reviewing the facts. A good attorney will also admit that he or she probably can't get you approved any faster than you could on your own. Here is a sample question you should ask and a sample answer a good attorney should give you:

Can a disability firm accept children's cases?

Not all disability firms will accept children's cases, and those that do may not have much experience with them. If you are filing on behalf of a child, make sure that the firm you deal with has experience with childhood disability questions.

Do disability firms keep in touch?

Even though disability firms are busy places, you should be provided with a contact person who you can rely on to answer your questions. The firm should also keep in touch with you on a regular basis. Here are some questions you should ask to get an idea of how your case will be handled:

Can you speak to a disability attorney?

Don't be put off if you can't speak to the attorney the first time you call, or if you are asked to speak to a staff member for help with a question. This is because experienced disability attorneys spend most of their time in hearings and rely on their staff to field calls. However, a good firm should allow you to schedule a free consultation ...

Does Nolo have a disability license?

Nolo has confirmed that every listed attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with their bar association.

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.

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 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 ...

What does Social Security consider when deciding a fee?

Social Security will consider a number of factors when deciding whether a particular fee is fair, including the outcome of the case and the level of skill that was required to handle the case. Social Security can approve the attorney's fee petition request, disapprove it, or modify the fee to a lower amount. Getting Social Security ...

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 ...

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.