While most people avoid filing for disability benefits due to the long, difficult, and cumbersome process of the claim that leaves many applicants rejected on their first attempts, there comes a time when the help becomes necessary.
Disability claim applicants who work with a law firm typically have a higher chance of winning their claim than people who do it alone. So, if you’re seeking disability benefits, it’s important to have a knowledgeable legal advisor to guide you through the process.
Here are some benefits of employing a disability lawyer to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
What Does a Disability Lawyer Do?
While you aren’t required to hire a lawyer to file a disability claim, it is recommended to do so and is the best option for most people. If you aren’t well-versed in the law regarding disability claims, you’ll likely make mistakes and get your appeal denied.
A disability claim lawyer brings a lot to the table, from knowing the rules and regulations governing disability benefits to making sure you have all the necessary paperwork and documents in place.
Additionally, disability attorneys know the problems you might face, so they can work ahead of time to ensure you avoid them. If the lawyer you’ve chosen has a good amount of experience in that industry, he will likely have connections and relationships with others in the field, making communication much easier.
Benefits of Hiring a Disability Lawyer
Prepare the Initial Claim
You need your attorney to start off strong by filing the initial claim for you. He can ensure that your application contains all of the necessary information to receive the highest settlement possible and reduce your wait time.
Your attorney should be able to gather what information and documentation are required by Social Security to ensure that your case doesn’t get delayed further or rejected altogether.
Write an Effective Appeal
People who’ve gone through the appeals process to request disability benefits before would tell you how crucial of a step it can be. The majority of people who try to obtain benefits usually get their applications denied.
Preparing an effective appeal on your behalf is also part of a disability attorney’s job to ensure your appeals get through. These cases often require several appeals during various stages, and their deadlines are very strict. Your attorney also needs to manage those deadlines to make sure the requests are filed on time.
Manage the Medical Evidence
One of the most important factors to a successful claim is having valid medical evidence to prove the needs of your disability. Most applicants fail to give the right evidence and tend to send irrelevant or unnecessary information instead.
An official opinion from your medical provider is also vital to winning a disability claim, but sometimes doctors may not help or choose not to support your claim. Represented applicants have an advantage here since their expert attorneys can:
- Develop the evidence needed to approve the client’s medical conditions.
- Communicate with medical staff to obtain their supportive opinion.
- Determine whether any additional tests or reports can help secure the case’s success.
Negotiate and Represent in Court
Experienced disability attorneys know their way around arguments and regulations regarding cases that can be used in the client’s favor. They can identify which statement to mention that will work best for your particular case. These disputes and grounds are impossible to understand without proper training in disability law.
The last part of the court process that your attorney will accompany you is the hearing. Your lawyer should be there to communicate with you before and during the hearing to create a compelling case and offer a persuasive testimony.
