Social Security Disability – Do I Really Need to Hire a Lawyer?

While the Social Security Administration never requires a claimant to have legal representation, there are some situations in the application process where it could benefit the applicant significantly to have an experienced attorney on their side to act as a strong advocate for their rights. It would be impossible and unprofessional for an attorney to promise that they can obtain Social Security benefits for you, but they can be a great asset as you develop your case for disability benefits.

A Social Security disability attorney can save you time, money and frustration

Assuming that you have never applied for Social Security benefits before, you might feel a bit confused and have lots of questions about what to do. You might also be too focused on your health to devote energy to the convoluted application process. An experienced Social Security disability lawyer has ushered countless people before you through the process of applying for disability benefits. They have a thorough understanding of the process, they know how to ask for exactly what they need from your doctor and they know from experience what documents will need to be completed and submitted with your claim.

Preparing for a disability appeals hearing

If you have never prepared a case for a hearing, then you would likely benefit from the services of an attorney who has years of experience and familiarity with the rules and regulations of the Social Security Administration because they have helped other clients through the process many times before. If your attorney has been handling SSD cases for a while, then they become familiar with the local Administrative Law Judges, their style and their demeanor. They will be able to prepare you on what you might expect when you are in front of a particular judge. An attorney may also be able to obtain a favorable decision for you “on the record,” which would allow you to skip the hearing all together.

When you must go to court your attorney will prepare your case, write up the brief, and find the appropriate witnesses to speak on your behalf. Prior to the hearing, your attorney might walk you through how the hearing could go, they will help you to become familiar with the questions and allow you to ask questions about the process so that you can be thoroughly familiar with the process.

Do not let money stop you from hiring an attorney

You might dismiss the idea of hiring an attorney because you think you can’t afford to pay one; however, SSD attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. All this means is that their fee is paid out of a percentage of your settlement.

Your attorney can charge you a fee that is up to 25 percent of your settlement or $6,000, whichever amount is less. You will sign a fee agreement contract with your attorney, which must be approved by the Social Security Administration. Your attorney will get paid around the same time you receive your settlement.

Your attorney will advise you in advance if they are going to charge you for court costs, filing fees and any other incidental, out-of-pocket expenses associated with working on your case.

Contact a West Tennessee SSD attorney at the law firm of Bailey & Greer today to discuss your case. We are ready to be a strong advocate for you and do whatever we can to help you obtain disability benefits. We have offices in Memphis, Jackson and Nashville to better serve you.