Many people who choose to apply for Social Security Disability benefits ask themselves if hiring a disability benefits lawyer is necessary. Though not everyone will require legal counsel during the initial application process, having a disability lawyer will provide you with a few key advantages.
What are the benefits of having a disability attorney representing you when you are preparing to file a claim? Is it possible to represent yourself and still receive the disability benefits you are owed?
Before you make a decision to represent yourself, it’s important to consider the advantages that having a disability benefits lawyer will provide. Let’s highlight those advantages and explore the above questions further so that you can make an informed decision to receive a fair and successful outcome.
Every Disability Case Is Unique
Applying for Social Security Disability benefits is a fairly straightforward process that comes with a lot of varying factors. Generally, people will try to file their application for benefits and only seek out help from a disability benefits lawyer after their application has been denied.
In fact, some disability attorneys even choose not to take on new clients until their application for benefits has been denied by the Social Security Administration. However, a person filing for benefits that does not have one of the conditions outlined in the SSA’s listing of impairments will have a much more difficult time proving their disability case.
Since there are millions of different applications submitted to the SSA every year, the chances of approving an application that does not perfectly fit their guidelines are extremely low. Recent studies show that an estimated 70% of submitted disability applications are rejected by the SSA.
For this reason, it is recommended to consult with a disability benefits lawyer before filing an application to improve your chances of getting approved. This will both increase your chances of having your benefits approved and reduce the overall time it takes to get that approval.
Advantages Of Having A Disability Benefits Lawyer
There are many advantages disability attorneys provide their clients that self-representation does not. For one, an experienced disability benefits lawyer will be able to answer all your questions regarding what to do after you’ve been denied.
The Social Security Disability appeals process consists of a few different factors, starting with the Request for Reconsideration. It’s important to know that less than 20% of cases are approved during this process.
The next stage of appeals is to have a Social Security Disability hearing, which will take place in front of an Administrative Law Judge. The majority of decisions that are overturned happen during this stage (nearly 2/3), giving you the best chance to win your appeal.
A disability benefits lawyer provides you with experienced legal counsel that further improves your chances at the hearing, eliminates minor filing mistakes, quickens the approval process, and reduces the chances you will need to repeat the entire time-consuming process.
Don’t make the difficulties of disability harder than they already are. Get a free consult with a disability lawyer in California to discover the fastest way to get the disability benefits you deserve.
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