There are many ways that a disability lawyer could help you with an application for social security disability benefits. Applying for a disability benefit from the SSA can be a frustratingly long and challenging prospect, especially considering you are probably trying to make ends meet while experiencing pain and other negative effects of your disability. A disability lawyer could help you at any stage of your disability benefits application, but can become almost indispensable if your application is rejected by the SSA and you are forced to appeal the decision.

What Does a Disability Lawyer Do?

Disability lawyers are familiar with every step of a disability benefits application and understand the challenges that often confront the person who is grappling with the process of applying for benefits. Their legal help extends to assisting with any stage of the benefits application procedure. Using a disability lawyer doesn’t necessarily mean that the whole application process is shorter, but with an application that has been better supported by the evidence that SSA assessors will be examining, it may mean that the application has a better chance of succeeding.

Disability benefits applications are often rejected at first for a variety of reasons. There is an appeals process, but this can be difficult to pursue all on your own. Because the disability lawyer has experience of the SSA’s requirements and criteria, as well as how the appeals process works, it can be hard to win an appeal against a denied application without help from a disability attorney.

What Will They Help Me With?

The disability lawyer can help progress your application for social security disability benefits at any stage of your application. These are some of the steps where legal advice can increase the chance that your application will be finally approved:

• providing initial an initial assessment of your chance of obtaining disability benefits payment when you attend a consultation;
• obtaining evidence that your disability matches the SSA’s blue book definitions including medical records;
• obtaining evidence that you will be unable to work for at least the next 12 months, including, if necessary, a residual functional capacity assessment by a doctor;
• representing you if your application is initially rejected, meaning that you start the protracted appeals process.

How Are They Paid?

Most disability lawyers offer free initial consultations to discuss your application for social security disability benefits. They can then help you with any stage of your application on a contingency fee basis. This means that you don’t have to pay any legal fees upfront. If the application is eventually accepted, the lawyer will deduct legal fees from your first SSD payments from the SSA. If your application is rejected despite it going through an extended appeals process, you won’t have to pay the lawyer’s legal fees. Basically, the disability lawyer takes the financial risk that your application can be approved.

Get Connected With a Disability Lawyer

A disability lawyer cannot speed up your application for social security disability benefits but legal help provided can increase your chances of obtaining them.

Fill out the free case evaluation to get connected with an independent disability benefits lawyer who subscribes to the website and may be able to help with your case.