When you apply for disability insurance benefits, you may wonder whether or not to hire a disability attorney. However, you should know that the majority of claimants experience frustration nearly right away during the application process because of the high chances of denial. As an applicant, you won’t have a lot of opportunities to be approved before you lose your chance. Having an experienced disability claims attorney represent you early in the application process will help make sure the process goes smoothly and increase your chances of approval.
Should You Hire a Disability Lawyer?
When you apply for disability benefits, hiring a lawyer doesn’t guarantee success. But an attorney can increase your chances of being approved. Below are ways your attorney can help obtain a successful claim outcome:
- Knowledge of the law. Social Security disability laws are composed of complex federal regulations and statutes. An experienced disability lawyer knows the laws that can be used to benefit your case.
- Deadlines. Applying for disability benefits means meeting some deadlines. Depending on what kind of disability claim you make, you may need to submit essential information as early as possible due to short deadlines. Missing deadlines means losing your chances of getting the benefits you need.
- Evidence presentation. Your attorney knows what kind of evidence your insurance examiner will look for. They will streamline and present the evidence to the hearing officer or Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in a compelling way. This evidence clearly shows your disability and its effects on your ability to work or function.
Reasons to Hire a Disability Lawyer
Typically, the disability claim process involves several steps. First, you must complete and submit the initial disability application. Once you complete the application, a review will be performed. At this stage, the majority of claims are denied.
After the initial interview and a denial, you can file an appeal. The reconsideration of your claim can take more evidence into account. Should your claim get denied again, an ALJ will review it. Don’t make the mistake of hiring an attorney only at this stage. You could avoid a denial of your claim if you work with an attorney early in the process.
Your lawyer can help collect vital evidence that can improve your chances of being approved presenting the most compelling evidence. Also, your attorney can determine possible reasons why your claim is denied. Perhaps you left vital information out or missed helpful testimony. Your lawyer will review the denial letter and correct the mistakes that you made during the process.