As you may know, Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that pays financial benefits to qualifying applicants. To claim SSDI benefits, you must have paid into the program, should have a verifiable work history, and must have been diagnosed with a disability or medical condition that prevents you from working full-time. That said, almost 70% of all claims submitted are initially denied, but the good news is applicants have the option to appeal. The question here is whether you should consider hiring a Springdale social security disability attorney. We have a few pointers below for your help.
The role of a disability attorney
A lot of people who have paid into the SSDI program often fail to understand how the system works. While there is no law that makes it necessary to have an attorney for your disability case, hiring the right one can improve your chances of getting approved. Social Security is more likely to approve the case of an applicant with legal counsel than someone who doesn’t have an attorney.
Besides helping with the initial stage, disability attorneys also have a role in the appeal process. You have 60 days to file an appeal if your case has been denied, and an attorney can work on the case to present the same for reconsideration. Your disability attorney will ensure that medical evidence and other information are presented to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and will also brief you on how to answer questions. If your case is again denied, you can appeal further to the Appeals Council and federal court, and your lawyer will demonstrate and offer arguments why Social Security was wrong in denying your case.
The cost of lawyering
If you are wondering whether you can afford a disability attorney, you should know that these lawyers can only charge what the laws allow them, which is less than 25% of your back pay but no more than $6,000. You don’t have to pay the attorney unless you get the benefits, which makes this a contingency arrangement, which is similar to personal injury lawsuits. Even when you are appealing for SSDI benefits for the first time, an attorney can only ask for a certain amount.
What you should also know is the fact that disability attorneys don’t have a magic wand. You may have to wait a while to get the benefits, but with an attorney, you have better chances of getting through with the initial application.
