Completing forms;Going with you to your local Social Security office;Interpreting for you;Gathering and giving information;Taking you to medical ex...
Complete and file forms;Gather information and file it with us;Review your file and understand the law;Review your file and understand the law;Get...
You must sign a statement naming (or in other words "appointing") your representative. We have an "Appointment of Representative" form that you can...
We will provide an interpreter, at no cost to you, if you ask for one or if you need language assistance.You may use a bilingual family member, fri...
You may provide your own sign language interpreter, at no cost to us. If you prefer, we will provide you with a sign language interpreter, if neede...
If you do not have a representative and we denied your case, we will give you a list of legal referral services, legal service organizations (for e...
To decide whether you can get SSI, we will ask you about:your income;the things you own (resources);your living arrangements (where you live, with...
If you hire an experienced Social Security disability lawyer before you apply for Social Security disability benefits, then you can be confident that your attorney will:
You may not have hired a lawyer the first time you applied for Social Security disability benefits and your application may have been denied. However, you can benefit from a Social Security disability lawyer if you need to reapply. Specifically, you should consider that:
If you decide to hire a lawyer to represent you at any stage of the SSA disability process, you should know how that lawyer is paid. First and foremost, you do not pay the lawyer any fees that are not part of your settlement. Federal law regulates this.#N#You only pay if the lawyer succeeds in getting your benefits for you.
If your claim is denied after the hearing by the ALJ, you can file a request for review by the Appeals Council within 60 days of the date of the unfavorable decision.
If you are one of the 70% (or more) of claimants who have their application denied by DDS, you can file a reconsideration appeal (it must be filed within 60 days of the date of the initial application denial). A new examiner and physicians at DDS will review your case, but your chances of approval are slim after an initial denial.
If you have been denied SSI benefits in the past, but truly believe that you should qualify for them, you should consider hiring a professional lawyer to help represent your case. You do not have to already have been denied to hire a lawyer because a lot of people feel like they should already have a lawyer just in case they need one. It is never a bad idea to have a legal attorney fighting for your side. If you are looking for a quality SSI attorney that will represent you in an honest manner, you need to contact our team at National Disability Benefits. We can provide you with a free disability evaluation and a free case evaluation. It is our goal to help you get the benefits that you deserve, even though it can be a frustrating process.
Other folks do not even know what SSI stands for, let alone whether or not they qualify for it. SSI is an abbreviation for Supplement Security Income , which is a federal welfare program for the blind, elderly, or disabled.
You can’t put a price on peace of mind, but it will feel good knowing that you are in good hands when you trust our team of professionals at National Disability Benefits. We can provide you with the help that you need to get the approval that you deserve.
You must answer all of your attorney's questions as honestly as you can—even if the questions are embarrassing or you feel ashamed of the answers. Otherwise, your attorney cannot represent you effectively. Remember that your attorney is not there to judge you, but to help you win your claim.
Next, your attorney will develop a "theory" of why you are disabled under Social Security disability law. Your attorney will write a legal brief for the judge explaining the theory of the case. There are three main possible "theories" an attorney can use to do this. Your lawyer can: 1 prove that your condition meets a disability "listing" 2 prove that you "grid" out of all work (including not being able to do your past work) 3 prove that your non-exertional limitations prevent you from working, or 4 prove that your exertion level is " less than sedentary ."
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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.
Most claims – actually about three-fourths of them nationwide – are denied when first reviewed. After the claim is denied, you will file a request for reconsideration. Upon the reconsideration review, very few claims are approved.
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.
When you think you won't be able to work for a long time, have a free consultation with a disability lawyer.
The most important reason to hire an attorney to help with your disability case is that your chances of being approved are significantly increased.
The general rule is "the earlier, the better." If you're even considering filing for disability, you should call a disability attorney for a free consultation. Your attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your case and assist you with your initial application.
The only real con of hiring a lawyer is that, if you win your claim, the lawyer will receive part of your back payments from Social Security. The lawyer can take up to 25% of your backpay, up to a maximum cap of $6,000 (but the fee has to be based on the amount of time the lawyer spends on your case).
Your attorney will develop a "theory" of why you are disabled under Social Security disability law: either that your condition meets one of Social Security's disability “listings,” that your exertion level (such as sedentary) prevents you from doing any jobs, or that you have non-exertional limitations (such as difficulty with memory and concentration) that prevent you from working..
What do the statistics say on outcomes? In our survey of readers, 60% of readers with lawyers were approved for disability benefits, compared to 33% of those who didn’t use an attorney. Unless your case is very clear cut and the evidence points strongly to your disability, you might be better off hiring an attorney.