Get the best way to search for a Social Security Disability attorney.
It can be overwhelming to find a lawyer that you are comfortable with if you are disabled and require the assistance of a lawyer to help you file for Social Security disability benefits or appeal a denial. You will need to find potential representatives you can hire. However, you may also need to meet or talk with a few representatives in order to decide if they are a good match.
Locating a Disability Lawyer
There are many options for finding an advocate or lawyer to help you with your disability case.
Contact a lawyer. You can ask a lawyer you already know for a referral to another lawyer who is experienced in Social Security Disability law. Referrals can be tricky for lawyers. If you have had a negative experience with the lawyer they recommend, it could damage both their reputations.
Talk to your family. People you know may have had contact with advocates or lawyers for disability. Family and friends may be familiar with disability lawyers through friendships or work relationships. It can be helpful to ask a friend or family member to recommend someone you trust to help you feel comfortable with the lawyer.
Consultation with a disability law firm is free. A free consultation with a disability firm is the fastest way to locate a lawyer and determine if you are eligible for benefits. Enter your zip code, and answer some questions about your case. To determine if your case is possible, a disability company will contact to set up a consultation.
Your local Bar Association. Each state and every county has a Bar Association. This is an organization of legal professionals. The Bar Association was created to support lawyers and those in need. You can generally search for lawyers by practice area on the Bar Association website. Remember that recommendations are only made by Bar Association members and do not depend on the lawyer’s abilities.
Lawyers.com and Avvo.com are two websites that make up the Nolo network. They offer free lawyer directories. These directories let you search by area and location, and provide detailed information about lawyers. You can visit www.lawyers.com/find-a-lawyer or www.avvo.com/find-a-lawyer to find out more.
Talk to others who have gone through the same disability process. You might participate in rehabilitation with others who are disabled, such as those who have been injured or are recovering from illness. You may also have the opportunity to meet disabled people through employment, training, living arrangements, or other community activities.
Asking someone who has gone through the disability process before can be a benefit as they will tell you about their experiences working with a lawyer, disability firm or advocate. You can also ask for objective, helpful information such as:
- The representative was very helpful in answering my questions and explaining everything.
- The representative returned the message in a reasonable time to the client.
- The representative kept to all deadlines and committed to the client.
Deciding on a Disability Representative
After you have a list of advocates or lawyers you can ask to represent your claim for disability, it is time to set up an appointment to meet with them. Representatives will usually meet with you to discuss your claim and decide if they are able to handle your case. Ask about their experiences with Social Security disability cases, and similar cases to yours at these meetings.
Here are some things to look out for when you hire a disability advocate or lawyer:
- It is important to feel comfortable talking with advocates or lawyers. Be able to openly and honestly tell them about yourself. Because the disability can be difficult to discuss, it is important that you review your medical history, as well as any mental or physical problems.
- It is not acceptable to feel judged for things you have done or did not do. You might withhold information if you feel judged. If a representative does not have all the information they need, they will not be able to properly prepare your case in order to maximize your chances of receiving benefits.
- The representative should make you feel heard and understood. Your case shouldn’t be treated as a secondary matter.
- It is important to trust the representative you choose to represent you in your Social Security disability claim. It is essential that you are able to communicate well with them.
It’s important to remember the roles that disability lawyers play as you go about finding a representative for your disability. They don’t have to tell you what to think. They are there to give you a realistic view of your claim, and to use their skills to help you get Social Security disability benefits.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Does everyone get turned down the first time for disability?
The Social Security Administration (SSA), does not deny every applicant the first time they apply.
Q. What are the chances of getting approved for disability?
In general, 35% of claimants are approved upon their first application. 10% of them get approved if appealed a denial, which is known as a reconsideration. About 50% of claimants are approved during an Administrative Law Judge hearing.
Q. How would you describe pain to a disability judge?
Although pain is difficult to describe, you should try to communicate your feelings to the judge as clearly as possible. You should tell the judge what kind of pain you feel (burning, stabbing etc. It should be stated how often it occurs and how it would be quantified (e.g., using a scale from 1-10).
Q. What is the most approved disability?
The most common conditions that are approved for disability benefits include arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders. You will be eligible if you are unable or unable walk because of arthritis or to perform manual dexterous movements such as typing or writing.
Q. How hard is it to get Social Security disability?
Unfortunately, SSDI benefits are not an easy process. It’s actually quite difficult. Each year, approximately 70% of initial SSDI claims get denied. This means that less than one third of initial SSDI claims are approved each year.
