Reasons to hire a Social Security Disability Lawyer
Have you worked hard your whole life and unexpectedly have an accident that is preventing you from being able to fulfill your everyday tasks, or been diagnosed with a severe medical condition that has slowly gotten worse and is now expected to continue to last, inhibiting you to go to work? It is time to turn to Social Security disability benefits for financial income support. You may be wondering when is the right time to call a social security disability lawyer, and the answer is right away.
Filing for Social Security Disability benefits can be an overwhelmingly complicated process. In fact, most applicants don’t know where to start or how to fill out the necessary paperwork to submit the correct medical documentation. This is a primary reason why over 65% of disability claims are originally denied.
Below are all reasons a Social Security Disability Lawyer can help support your chances of getting the disability benefits you deserve.
- Preparing the Initial Claim
An attorney can jump start the process by filing your claim for you. The attorney will ensure your application contains the essential information needed, and is free of mistakes, to maximize the money you may receive and minimize your wait time. Your attorney knows the proper data and documentation Social Security needs so that communication problems don’t cause your case to be unnecessarily delayed or denied altogether.
- Filing the Appeal
An overwhelming majority of applications get denied. Being prepared for appeals an essential part of any good disability attorney’s job. Social Security cases frequently involve several appeals, so it’s very important to keep in mind that there are strict deadlines for these appeals. Your attorney is aware of these deadlines and have procedures in place to make sure that appeals are filed on time.
- Communications with Medical Providers
Supportive opinions from all doctors are vital to winning your disability claim. Doctors are usually hesitant to help disability applicants for simple reasons such as believing you do not meet the disability qualifications, they are too busy to fill out forms, or they are unsure of the disability process. However, Doctors are often more willing to respond to a disability attorney or advocate professional, than to their patient. Your lawyer will press the Doctor for the exact medical evidence required to support your case.
- Managing Evidence
The most important factor to your claim is including the right medical evidence. Disability attorneys and advocates are experts at developing the evidence needed for Social Security approval based on your specific medical conditions. A disability lawyer will provide comprehensive information about your doctors and/or hospitalizations and determine if additional tests are needed for the appropriate medical records to be obtained.
Your attorney will also make sure that irrelevant information isn’t submitted. This is especially important if your claim goes to the hearing level because administrative law judges (ALJs) become irritated if they have to go through hundreds of pages of extraneous records.
- Expert Representation at Your Hearing
Statistics have proved the Social Security Administration (SSA) is more likely to approve someone that is represented by an attorney. Having your disability lawyer by your side when you go before the judge will be comforting. Your attorney will prepare you with crucial information to ask you the right questions at the hearing so you can offer the most persuasive testimony possible.
Your attorney makes an opening statement and closing argument at your hearing. Sometimes the testimony of a vocational expert (an expert in jobs) can also be very important for your case. Only an experienced Social Security disability attorney can effectively perform the cross-examination of this expert. Judges often rely heavily on medical or psychological experts, so an experienced attorney will question these experts as well.
- Attorneys Know How to Win
Disability attorneys have the court experience and know how to maneuver the process accurately and handle any difficulties to overcome. They also tend to know the administrative law judges (ALJs) in their district. Knowing the ALJs is helpful because then your attorney already has the insight as to how the ALJ typically conducts the hearing and if the ALJ has any biases towards certain medical conditions.
In some cases, there are “bad facts,” often related to an applicant’s medical records, such as a doctor’s opinion that you are exaggerating symptoms, or that you haven’t seen that doctor for many years, or inconsistencies with the treatment plan. These are all harmful to a claimant’s case. Your attorney will know how to navigate and confront such issues to minimize and potential damage to your case.
Disability lawyers know the right question to ask and how to ensure you are being asked the proper questions that will help your case. Lawyers are trained to detect problems, ask additional questions to correct or clarify your testimony, and they know the arguments to win disability appeals.
- Less Stress on You
Struggling with your disability and adapting to how it has changed your life is already hard enough. One less thing to worry about is clearly the best reason to hire a disability lawyer. Hiring an attorney to help you through the disability benefits process will alleviate the stress factors that come along with the complex process in knowing you are in good hands.
Lowery Law Group Is Here to Help
The Lowery Law Group are experts that present your case and provide you with the greatest chance of winning your claim. Hiring professionals like Lowery Law Group to streamline the process gives you all the necessary proficiencies to achieve your Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income financial assistance. We work hard to voice the proper theory and present the needed facts for your appeal, which makes the difference in getting your claim approved or receiving a rejection letter.
We help you collect what medical information is needed, present the relevant documentation, and communicate with your physicians on your behalf to collect supportive statements. In the event that your case does go to a hearing, we prepare you for the hearing well in advance to help you feel at ease and know what to expect.
Contact Lowery Law Group at info@lowerylegal.com or call (843) 991-0733. There is no fee for a free consultation regarding your claim. Lowery Law Group is experienced in handling cases in South Carolina as well as Georgia.