Getting on Disability: How To Hire a Lawyer

Social security disability is being paid out to nearly 10 million Americans in 2019. Some 870,827 disabled workers lost benefits this same year.

But before all those people could get on disability, they needed to navigate the disability application process. Most people who have applied or tried to get on disability will tell you that navigating through a disability insurance application is not easy.

If you’re considering applying for disability or have already and your application is held up, you might be looking for help from a disability lawyer.

Read on to learn how a disability lawyer can help your case and how to find one that will be the right fit for you.

Why Hire a Disability Lawyer for Your Case

Getting social security disability is not an easy process. You need an experienced disability lawyer because they understand the process. They also know how to best present your case so you have the best chance of getting approved.

One of the biggest reasons to hire a disability lawyer to help you get on disability is that cases with a lawyer are more often approved than those who don’t have a lawyer.

Can you get a disability claim approved without a lawyer? Yes. But the truth is you are much more likely to get your case approved if you have legal representation.

Benefits of Hiring a Disability Lawyer

Before we consider how to find the best disability lawyer for your case, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of working with one. Here are some reasons to consider getting a lawyer before you begin the application process for social security disability.

Help With the Application Process

If you want to apply for disability, you really need to understand the process and the needed documentation. Most people find they will struggle with just completing the application.

You don’t want to make a mistake with the application early on. Your case will be denied before you barely get started. Hiring an attorney also means you will send it in the right medical documentation that will best support your application.

Increase Chances for Approval

As was already mentioned, there’s no denying the fact that more cases get approved when disability applicants use an attorney. Sure, some cases can get through without an attorney. But by and large, you have a much better chance for approval when you use the services of a disability lawyer.

Why is this? It seems the Social Security Administration gives more credibility to cases where an attorney is involved, for sure. It’s also likely that the attorney knows the process and understands best what it takes to get approval.

Because they have gone through the process many times, they know how to fill out the application. They also know what doctors and what information will best support your case.

Represent Through the Process

There’s no doubt that the disability process can be daunting. Often you have to answer questions, submit more documentation. You can also get denied and need to file an appeal.

If you have to go to an appeal your disability attorney can best:

• Gather key medical evidence
• Work to communicate with your doctor and other medical professionals who have treated you
• Prepare you for questions you may face from the administrative law judge

If you have the same attorney since you started the application, they will be familiar and prepared to handle the appeal process.

Experience

Don’t discount the value of experience. While this might feel scary and overwhelming for you, your attorney has the experience to not get ruffled or intimidated by the process.

They know what to expect and can help you get prepared for any hearings or appeals you may face.

Finding the Right Disability Lawyer

Certainly, you could go to Google and search for a disability lawyer near me. In some cases, that’s the first step. You’ll still get a long list of possible candidates. How do you narrow down to find the best lawyer for your case?

Let’s take a look at some things you should consider when searching for an attorney to help with your case.

Experience and Background

You might not need an attorney who has been doing disability cases for decades, but don’t underestimate the value of some experience in disability law.

Be sure to ask your attorney candidates how often they do disability law. Technically, any attorney could handle a disability case. But you want one who regularly handles disability cases and is up to date on the intricacies of the law.

Similar Cases

It might be wise to ask the disability attorney about other disability cases they have handled. How is your case like previous cases? You want to know about their rate of success with cases like your own.

It would also be wise to ask when they have had problems with disability cases. You want to be well prepared with how they have handled cases in the past and how that might impact your application.

Timeline

Ask the attorney to discuss the application timeline with you. If they make unrealistic promises about how quickly they can resolve your case, you should be concerned.

Discuss what they expect the application timeline to look like. This will help to prepare you for the process and help you to understand how they will approach your case.

How to Proceed and What to Expect

Ask the attorney candidate to go over with you how they will approach your application. Ask them to discuss what you should expect during each step in the process.

What medical documentation will still be needed for your case?

Once you’ve discussed these areas with your disability attorney, you should have a good sense if you feel comfortable and confident in how they will handle your case.

Get a Lawyer to Help You Get on Disability

Getting on disability can be quite a process. You want a disability attorney who understands the unique aspects of this type of law and what it takes to get an application approved.

At Sweet Lawyers, we do disability law and have the experience to help you get your social security disability approved. Contact us today to set up a free evaluation of your case.