Millions of people throughout the country rely on disability benefits from the federal government to help them pay for their medical needs and other household expenses. If you are disabled and can no longer work, you might consider filing a claim with the Social Security Administration to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. But the reality is that of the individuals who apply for these benefits every year, only about thirty percent are approved after the initial application. That means that if you apply for SSDI benefits today, you have a seventy percent chance of being denied. This is when having the legal representation of a SSDI attorney can be critical.
Why Are So Many People Denied SSDI Benefits?
The Social Security Administration doesn’t just take your word that you’re disabled. They have a strict application and eligibility process that all applicants must fulfill. If you don’t fulfill their definition of a disability, you don’t have enough medical evidence to support your claim, or you’ve made simple errors in the application process, this is enough for them to deny you benefits.
Can You Appeal This Decision?
When you have been denied SSDI, you are entitled to appeal their decision, but the appeals process is time-consuming. You must determine why you’ve been denied, fix it, file an appeal, and wait for a new decision. There are no guarantees that this new decision will be different. In the meantime, your financial obligations are piling up, and, without these benefits, you may be unable to pay them.
What Can Hiring an Experienced SSDI Attorney Do for You When Filing Your Disability Claim?
Hiring an experienced SSDI attorney to assist with your disability application will reduce the risk of denial by Social Security. A SSDI attorney understands the system and knows what is required in the application process.
Before you file a claim, an experienced SSDI attorney will
- Assess your eligibility based on the nature of your disability, your work history, and your income
- Ensure that all paperwork is filled out completely and correctly, containing no errors that could result in a denial
- Assist you with obtaining the required medical evidence needed to support your claim
- Calculate how much you are entitled to receive in disability benefits
- Represent you at every level of your claim and/or appeal
If you have received a denial from the Social Security Administration, your SSDI attorney will put you in a better position when filing an appeal. Your attorney will
- File your appeal in a timely manner
- Analyze your existing Social Security file
- Request additional medical records and statements to support your claim
- Prepare your case
- Prepare you for your testimony at each level of the appeal process
- Question witnesses
- Cross-examine medical or vocational experts who testify at your hearings
- If your appeal is unsuccessful, or you disagree with their findings, your attorney can take your claim before the Appeals Council and the Federal District Court.
Disabled individuals who have the legal representation of a SSDI attorney are more likely to be approved for benefits or get their denial overturned than those without legal representation.
The Advantages of Hiring a SSDI Attorney When Filing for Disability
People who file disability claims with Social Security need these benefits as soon as possible to financially care for themselves and their families, but the approval process can be complicated. Getting denied wastes valuable time and leaves vulnerable individuals without the benefits they need and deserve.
If you are planning to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or have been denied benefits and need to appeal, don’t attempt it without legal representation. Hiring a skilled Social Security Disability Insurance attorney will help improve your chances of a successful claim. The experienced SSDI attorneys at Silver & Silver can help. Call us at (610) 638-7255 or schedule a no-cost consultation through our website contact form.
Disclosure:
This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Offices of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.
