A Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help Every Step Of The Way
Suddenly becoming disabled can leave you feeling depressed and just not like yourself. While you may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits, it's understandable if your brain is just not quite ready to go through the gauntlet of paperwork that is often required to file a successful claim. In this situation, you need an advocate who can do the paperwork for you and handle any other matters like speaking to someone directly or even going to court. Here's how a good Social Security Disability attorney can help you every step of the way.
Preparation Before Submission
A disability claim often requires a lot of documentation both for the application itself and also for any medical records you will need to attach. Your attorney can make sure you leave no stone unturned in the gathering of evidence, allowing you to submit a case that is as ironclad as possible the first time instead of scrambling to make it better on an appeal. At the very least, you can make sure you avoid a dumb paperwork mistake that immediately gets you denied or delays the entire process unnecessarily.
Line Up Medical Experts As Needed
As part of the claims process, you might need to get one or more doctors to vouch for you as needed. If you need an expert to write a letter for you, your lawyer can make suggestions about what that letter should say to maximize your chances of success. If you need to hire additional experts beyond your normal doctors, your attorney might already know some people who can help.
Respond to Questions That Come Up
At some point during the initial claims process, you might get a request for more information. Being able to respond quickly to these questions can expedite the process. You should let your lawyer do the talking to avoid saying anything that would work against you.
Move for an Appeal Immediately
If you do get denied on the first try, don't despair. It will be possible to appeal the decision. By having a lawyer with you for this process from day one, you will already have the information you need for the appeal ready to go. The sooner you address any concerns and file the appeal, the sooner you can get the money you deserve.
Representation at a Hearing
If you do file an appeal, you might have an opportunity to make your case in the courtroom with a hearing. Your attorney will have previous experience with this and can serve as your representative instead of you having to go it alone in what could be an unfamiliar and intimidating environment.
Contact a Social Security Disability lawyer for more information.