Should I get a representative for my disability claim ?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Some disabled individuals do not actually need to consider attorney representation for their disability claim until the hearings level of appeal (i.e. the social security disability hearing). That being said, however, some disability applicants are not able to handle their paperwork or file the appeal in a timely manner. In fact, a significant percentage of claimants fail to file their paperwork in a way that gives them the most advantage and many fail to submit all their required forms by the deadline. The effect of missing a deadline, of course, is that a claimant may have to start over with a new claim which amounts to wasting months of valuable time. Consequently some disability applicants will need to have a representative at the initial claim or reconsideration appeal level.

Should you get a representative? When considering this question, you should do whatever works for you. You do not have to have a representative at any step in the process. You do not even have to have a representative at the hearing level. However, with regard to hearings, you should consider the fact that an average individual knows nothing about Social Security law.

If you will be attending a disability hearing, you should certainly be prepared and attempt to maximize your chance of winning (especially since it can take 1-2 years to get a hearing scheduled). Like all hearings, of course, (not just disability hearings) it is usually wise to have a representative who is familiar with the law, in this case social security law.

In fact, statistics seem to indicate that SSD and SSI disability claims with representation have as much as a fifty percent higher approval rate than those that do not.

Additional Information:

Getting a Social Security Disability Representative for your case

What is the Role of a Social Security Disability Representative?

Why does Representation increase the win ratio at a Social Security Disability or SSI Hearing?

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

Winning Social Security Disability Benefits For Mental Disorders

Will I be approved for disability on my appeal ?

When Are You Allowed To Ask For A Social Security Disability Hearing?

Should you talk to an Attorney before you file a Disability Claim with Social Security?

Do you need a Lawyer at the Administrative Law Judge Disability Hearing?

Applying for disability benefits in Ohio

How do Social Security Disability and SSI appeals work ?

The SSD, Social Security Disability Date of Application

If You File For Social Security Disability How Far Back Will They Look At Your Medical Records?

Do You Qualify For SSDI Benefits from SSA? (Social Security Disability Insurance)

Social Security Disability Representation Issues

How Long Does Your Attorney Have To File Your Social Security Disability Appeal?

How do you appeal your denial for disability?

Will you be notified if you receive an Approval for Social Security Disability or SSI

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in California

What If You Did Not Work Long Enough To Qualify For Disability?

What does it mean if Social Security sends you to a Psychiatrist?

Should you talk to an Attorney before you file a Disability Claim with Social Security?

The Social Security Disability Medical Review

How many Social Security Disability appeals do you get ?

The Social Security Disability Decision and Your Ability to Work

Being Determined Medically Disabled for Social Security Disability

Mental Disability Benefits and What Social Security will Consider

Is Bipolar Disorder a disability according to Social Security?

Glaucoma, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

Social Security Disability Medical Evaluation Form, Can A Doctor Be Forced to Complete One?

How Does Social Security Decide If You Are Disabled Or Not?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials