By While you aren’t necessary to hire an legal professional to represent you in your disability case, statistics show that disability claimants who are represented by the lawyer are more likely to be approved for benefits, especially at the hearing level. If you choose to get legal representation, there are some things to retain in mind to help you select the right Social Security disability lawyers.
Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions
Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions
Professionalism and Courtesy
Whenever you call a potential attorney, pay attention to the amount of professionalism and treatment you receive by the legal professional and staff. Despite the fact that disability firms are usually busy places, you should still receive timely callbacks and be given the opportunity to ask questions.
Attorney Access
Don’t be placed off if you can’t speak to the attorney the first time you call, or if you are asked to talk with an employee member for aid in a question. It is because experienced disability attorneys spend the majority of their amount of time in hearings and rely on their staff to field calls. However, a good firm should allow you to schedule a free of charge consultation with the attorney. Remember, though, that due for an attorney’s time constraints, it isn’t uncommon for the firm to limit the space of these consultations.
Promises of Outcomes
It really is unethical, and unfair for you, for an legal professional to guarantee that he / she are certain to get you approved. An excellent attorney will give you a genuine assessment of your case only after reviewing the reality. A good lawyer will also admit that he / she probably can’t get you approved any faster than you could by yourself. Here is a sample question you should ask and an example answer a good lawyer should offer you:
“Will my claim be approved?” we can’t guarantee that you will win. However, we could pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses available for you and look for ways to boost your likelihood of approval.
“Is it possible to get me approved faster? we probably can’t get you through the Social Security disability process any faster. However, my staff and I could ensure that deadlines are met and this your records are requested and submitted promptly.
how to answer questions on disability forms and Approval Rates
You must ask a potential legal professional or a staff member about the firm’s approval rate. Here are some questions to ask:
“What is your overall approval rate?”
“What portion of your approvals are at the hearings level?”
“What percentage of your wins are for full benefits?”
“What percentage of your wins are for partial benefits?”
A good firm should be willing, and able, to talk about their statistics.
Office and Case Management
Even though disability organizations are busy places, you ought to be given a contact one who you can rely on to reply to your questions. The firm also needs to talk to you frequently. Below are a few questions you should ask to get a concept of how your case will be handled:
“What kind of support staff have you got?”
“Will I have my very own case manager?”
“How many clients does the average case manager handle?
“How often can I expect a call from my case manager to keep me updated on the progress of my case?”
“Will there be a paralegal in the firm?”
“Do you want to request my records for me personally?”
“Will you advance the price tag on my medical records?” (Most companies will, but you’ll have to settle them, whether you win or lose, at the close of your case.)
Attorney Credentials
An legal professional doesn’t have to be accredited to represent claimants at disability hearings; in fact, a claimant’s representative do not need to be an legal professional in any way. However, a qualified lawyer may have an improved knowledge of Social Security law. It is because attorneys receive special training in how to read and interpret statutes and case law. Also, your attorney must have the ability to an attorney who’s licensed to apply law in federal court if your claim ever gets appealed compared to that level.
Below are a few additional questions you can ask to get an idea of the attorney’s expertise.
“Just how many years perhaps you have practiced disability law?”
“Are you licensed in the us where you practice?”
“How many cases would you handle per annum?”
“Do you ever go through additional training?”
“How long have you practiced in this geographical area?
This last question may seem strange. However, it is important to ask just because a disability attorney that has practiced quite a while in the region where you live knows the administrative law judges (ALJs) who may hear your case. ALJs are unique in how they approach decision. Some ALJs are also biased towards, or against, certain types of cases. An excellent attorney will know how to modify arguments, if you need to, to appeal to the ALJ assigned to listen to the case.
Special Knowledge of Your Condition
Some claims may become more challenging to win as a result of medical condition which they are based. This can be especially true when a claimant suffers from mental illness along with drugs or alcohol abuse. If this is your position, ask the legal professional about his or her approach to these kind of cases and the success rate for winning them.
Children’s Cases
Children’s cases are handled differently from adult cases. Not all disability firms encourage children’s cases, and those that do may well not have much experience with them. If you are filing with respect to a child, ensure that the firm you deal with has experience with childhood disability questions. It’s also advisable to enquire about the attorney’s approval rate for childhood disability cases.
References
You need to ask the firm if it is willing to provide references or testimonials from past clients. An excellent firm should most probably to doing this.
