Should I Pay a Lawyer to Handle my Social Security Case?

If you are applying for benefits from Social Security, then you may wonder whether you should hie a social security disability lawyer or not. While the answer may depend on your situation, in most cases, it is a very good idea to have an experienced attorney acting as your legal advocate as you go through the process of applying for benefits.

The Application Process

When you apply for social security disability benefits, you need to prove:

• That your disability is severe: The SSA has a blue book of listed disabilities that are severe enough to qualify you for disability benefits, but if your disability is not in the blue book, you may still be able to qualify by proving that it is equally severe and impairing.
• That your disability prevents you from working: The disability must be serious enough to interfere with your ability to work in the job you had, or if you to be retrained for a new job. Typically, the disability must also interfere with your ability to perform basic daily activities.
• That your disability is going to prevent you from working on a long term basis: Generally, the disability that you have must last for two or more years or must be fatal
• That you have worked long enough to be eligible for disability. The amount of time you must have worked to be eligible varies depending upon your age when you become disabled.

Why You Need a Social Security Disability Lawyer

When you are applying for benefits, you need to prove you meet all the requirements. This involves collecting a great deal of evidence, from medical data and records to expert opinions to your work history. There are also a number of application forms that you may have to fill out as you go through the process.

If you fail to provide sufficient information or to fill out the forms properly, your claim may be denied. A lawyer can help you to make sure you make a convincing case for your disability and your entitlement to benefits, so that your claim is heard and approved. If your claim is denied, then your attorney can help you to gather the evidence you need to appeal to the review board so that you are not left out in the cold without the benefits you require.

Getting Help

It is best to hire an attorney as soon as possible in the disability process, so as to maximize your chances of being approved for benefits without the need to appeal. Find an attorney who is willing to work with you on fees, or if you are going to appeal who may be willing to accept a percentage of your settlement, and let that attorney guide you through the process to getting the benefits you deserve.