Social Security Attorneys - what you should know

If you have applied for either social security disability or SSI disability, or are simply considering applying, the thought may already have crossed your mind that you may need an attorney at some point. And, certainly, this is a valid concern. For claimants who may have to invest up to three years of their time in the disability evaluation system before being awarded benefits, it makes complete sense to try to maximize the chances of winning.

However, if you are seriously considering obtaining representation, here's what you should know about social security attorneys. And this applies equally as well to non attorney representatives (who are often former employees of the social security administration or disability determination services).

1. Attorneys and non attorneys who represent social security disability and SSI claims work on a contingency basis; that is, they are not paid up front. Instead, they receive a fee only if they win your claim. At present, the fee is equal to one-quarter of whatever back pay a disability claimant receives (up to a designated maximum amount). So, in other words, you won't need to worry about the expense of retaining a disability representative.

2. Attorneys and non attorneys who represent disability claims cannot guarantee that an individual's case may be won, though they can certainly improve the chances of winning benefits by utilizing knowledge of how the disability system works and by the avoidance of certain pitfalls and mistakes (which an unrepresented claimant may unwittingly fall prey to). Also, it is probably just a simply reality of human nature that an administrative law judge may view a represented claimant a bit differently than one is not represented.

3. Representatives do most of their work at the hearing level, meaning that you may not necessarily need representation prior to filing a request for hearing. However, having said that, many claimants will still benefit from the assistance of an attorney or non attorney at earlier stages in the process. Why is this? Well, it may not apply to every case, but in way too many instances, an unrepresented claimant will fail to meet a deadline, or fail to respond properly to SSA correspondence. Why does this happen as often as it does? There may be a number of different reasons. Perhaps stress is a variable in some cases. However, a disability representative can fill this gap and, to some extent, make things easier for a claimant.

4. The individual, firm, or agency that you select to handle your case will gather all the information needed to represent your claim, including your most recent medical records and statements from the doctors who have treated you. They will also gather your older records if necessary to substantiate the most favorable onset date for your claim (which may have a direct impact on the amount of backpay you receive).

5. The social security administration, once it becomes aware of the fact that you have representation, will send copies to your representative of all correspondence that is sent to you. This may be considered a failsafe device as this is to ensure that both you and your attorney (or non attorney) stay on the same page and that certain requirements can be met (such as the timely filing of appeals). For example, if you, for whatever reason, do not receive a denial notice, but your attorney does receive his or her copy, then the appropriate appeal can be filed in a timely manner.

Does everyone need an attorney or non attorney to win a disability case? No, not at all. However, if your claim is denied at the initial claim level, the chances are good that you will have to appear, at some point, at a disability hearing before a judge. And at that level of the disability process, it makes perfect sense to be represented: roughly 40% of unrepresented claimants win cases at the hearing level versus over 60% of claimants who have attorney or non atttorney representation.



Return to the Social Security Disability SSI Benefits Blog




Other Posts

How much can I earn and still receive Disability benefits ?
File for disability

Disability status
Disability back pain