Q: Will your disability claim be reviewed more quickly if it is represented by a social security attorney?

A: Having a legal representative does not guarantee that your claim will be processed any faster. But the likelihood that your claim will be awarded benefits can increase if it is represented by a social security attorney. Some cases are approved after the initial review process. But most claimants will be denied benefits after the initial review process and will then wish to move onto the next step in the process. The next step would be to appeal to have the case reconsidered. The majority of claimants will still not be awarded benefits during reconsideration and will likely wish to take the next step, which is a hearing. A social security attorney will be a tremendous asset during a hearing. The knowledge and expertise provided by an attorney who deals with disability cases regularly will assure that your case will be adjudicated fairly and properly. You do not need to be represented by a lawyer to go through the hearing phase. But most claims that are awarded benefits after a hearing have had legal representation. A lawyer will make sure that your case is given the best chance it can to be awarded benefits, but he cannot necessarily speed up the process. The outcome that matters most is being approved for benefits, not how fast your case was reviewed.

Q: Do you have to have a social security attorney that lives in your town?

A: The lawyer you hire is not required to be local. Many attorneys handle cases all over their states and will drive to meet their clients. Your time would be better spent on locating a social security attorney that has the expertise and institutional knowledge you feel would best suit your needs, than on locating one who is geographically near you.

Q: If you are awarded disability benefits after a hearing, when do you actually see your first check?

A: Although you had to meet some required timelines when you filed various forms during the claims process, the SSA does not have any timelines for your payments to begin. That being said, the majority of people receive their first benefits check within 60 days after they were approved. Retroactive benefits may take a bit longer.

Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) mails all workers over the age of twenty five a record of earnings that estimates the benefits they will be eligible for. Normally, the statement will arrive around three months before your birthday. However, if you do not receive your statement, you can visit your local SSA office or the SSA website and fill out a request to receive this information. Since it is not uncommon for there to be errors, be sure to review this statement to ensure that your earnings over the years have been reported accurately. This is extremely important since your future benefits are based on the information contained in this report.

Keywords in this article: Social security help