It is simply not a good idea to take on the Social Security Administration on your own.
A statistical report from the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration concluded that people who have lawyers helping them are more likely to get a disability award at the appeal hearing level than people who do not have lawyers.
Furthermore, trying to work through the Social Security disability evaluation process is more stress and work than most people want. The reason that you are applying for benefits is that you have a disability that impairs your ability to function. The very fact that you are disabled now makes it that much more difficult for you to deal with the Social Security Administration.
The Social Security Administration is a huge bureaucracy, and the quantity of regulations regarding the disability evaluation process can be overwhelming. As a result, the Social Security disability process is very complicated and confusing.
An experienced Social Security disability lawyer has the advantage of working with these regulations all the time so that they are familiar. Furthermore, an experienced disability lawyer knows the judges and knows what they expect.
The first step for starting a disability claim is to file an application with the Social Security Administration.
Many people file the application on their own, before they hire a lawyer. The Social Security administration has made the application process relatively easy. You can do it either by:
If you want to file the application yourself, you might first look at 9 Tips for applying on this website.
There is no rule on when a disability lawyer can become involved in a Social Security claim case. That is, a lawyer can begin helping you at any time.
If you want to file your own Social Security disability application, you may do that, and then hire a lawyer at a later time if the application is denied.
On the other hand, if you want you may hire a lawyer right away, and have the lawyer help in completing the application.
I am available to help with your Social Security disability claim.
If you are not already represented by a Social Security disability lawyer, consider letting me evaluate your claim. Give me a brief description of your claim on the form to the right, or e-mail or call my office.
Terrence L. Parker
Parker Law Offices
Social Security disability lawyer
