Q: If your application for social security benefits has just been denied, should you hire a social security attorney?

A: If you were denied benefits after you applied for disability, you do not need to hire a social security attorney to appeal. A fair number of people who wish to appeal their cases, however, obtain the services of an attorney at this point. The next step is to file a reconsideration. Most cases are still not approved when reconsidered. The next step would then be to file an appeal to have your claim heard before an administrative judge. A hearing is your last opportunity to present your case. Having a social security attorney on your side after your application is initially not approved can help you give your case the best chance possible. To have your case heard before an administrative judge, it is not mandatory to be represented by a lawyer. Nevertheless, most claimants that win after a hearing have a lawyer.

Q: How do you find a good social security attorney?

A: If you know someone who was happy with an attorney they hired for a disability case, this is the best place to start. If you do not know of any recommendations, hop online and see if you can find any reviews for an attorney who handles your type of claims. Once you find some attorneys, make a list of basic questions you plan to ask any candidates. First, find out what percentage of cases the lawyer handles are disability cases. Having a lawyer who deals with your type of cases a lot will be beneficial. Assure that the attorney has copies of your application, denial notification and health records so he can be well versed on your case when you sit down to meet for the first time. Ask the candidate to explain how the disability process works. Then get specifics on the issues the lawyer sees with your particular case. It is generally not helpful to ask how many cases an attorney has won. Each claim has so many varying factors. It is more helpful to hire a social security attorney that has a lot of disability expertise and who has taken the time to know your particular issues.

Q: Is it wise to submit a new application if you were not approved for disability insurance?

A: It is generally not a good idea to simply apply again after you were initially denied. Your next step is to file for reconsideration. You must submit your appeal within 60 days of the date when your initial application was denied. If your case is not approved after reconsideration, you will then move on to the hearing phase. By applying all over again, instead of appealing, you will significantly delay your opportunity to have your case reconsidered or heard before a judge.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 7:04 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.