People with disabilities deserve to live a comfortable life, free from unnecessary hardship much more than their medical conditions. Their beneficiaries deserve a happy life, too. If you’re a disabled person, you might have considered hiring a disability attorney to help get your disability benefits.
A claimant has to fit the disability criteria established by the Social Security administration on what a disability is. Additionally, the applicant’s job must be covered under Social Security to receive the Social Security benefits.
If you qualify for these benefits, you’ll receive a disability check every month if you’ve been out of work for at least a year and unable to work due to the disability.
If your disability application has been denied, it’s likely because your disability claims don’t fit the established criteria. If you’ve faced a denial, that’s when a benefits lawyer can help. Hiring one can increase your chances of getting a favorable decision when you ask for reconsideration of your disability claim.
Our Monroe Social Security disability attorneys are disability advocates with a passion for helping people. If you need an attorney, call our law offices now!
What Exactly Can a Louisiana Social Security Attorney Do?
Disability attorneys can’t make the application process faster nor can they decrease the waiting period. There’s nothing they can do to speed up the appeals process. They also cannot 100% guarantee that you will win your Social Security disability benefits, but the odds are much worse without attorney help.
Proper legal representation improves your chances of approval for your disability appeal. A lawyer from a disability law firm will ensure that they fill out the paperwork with perfect accuracy, that you follow the procedure to the best of your ability, and that your case is seen in the best possible light.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Attorney
With the difficulty of applying for Social Security, you want to make sure that your lawyer can help you apply for benefits or with the appeal process. Here are some things to keep in mind before entering the law office of your potential lawyer to know if they’re the best to provide you legal assistance.
- What is your success rate? How many of their cases did their clients win full benefits?
- How long have they practiced Social Security law?
- How many approvals are at the hearing level?
- How many cases do they handle each year?
- What’s their experience with clients with [your medical condition or impairment]?
- How long have they practiced in this region?
With the answers to these questions, you’ll have a better understanding of their qualifications and whether the lawyer is experienced enough with disability law and can help you with your Social Security claim.
How Much Will My Case Cost?
You should expect to pay little or even nothing out of pocket upfront. The fees are taken from the past-due Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits awarded to you. The fee agreement is also limited to the lower of either:
- $6000.00; or
- 25% of the SSI benefits you’re owed.
The Social Security disability attorney usually will have you sign some papers that let the Social Security office directly pay the law firm. Take note that the lawyers don’t get paid if Social Security doesn’t approve your claim. You owe no fee if you get nothing.
Ask your lawyer about the fee structure before hiring. Ask about any out-of-pocket expenses, too. You may have to pay fees for things related to your cases, such as requests for records from your school, your work history, or medical records. You can also expect fees for copying and postage.
Final Thoughts
A Social Security lawyer is an immense help when you’re applying for disability benefits or appealing for them. They’ll ensure that you have the best chances of getting a favorable decision. The only downsides to hiring one are the fees, which you should not have to worry about if you don’t get any disability benefit.
Our disability lawyers at the Monroe, Louisiana law offices of E. Orum Young have helped disabled people apply for Social Security and get their disability insurance benefits. They are experts in Social Security laws who can guide you to avoiding an unfavorable decision and can help you qualify for Social Security by getting through the disability determination process. Our practice covers Social security disability insurance (SSDI) and supplemental security income (SSI). Call our Monroe disability attorneys now!
