 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
Social Security Disability Attorney Qualifications and ExpensesHow to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits Choosing a Disability Attorney or a Disability Representative Individuals who seek to be represented on their disability claim with the social security administration can obtain representation at any time. The representative may be a disability attorney, or a non-attorney representative. A disability attorney is usually an individual who has chosen to specialize in handling social security cases; however, some disability attorneys are not true specialists and only handle the occasional social security case, incorporating such cases into their mix of work which might include personal injury, traffic, and malpractice cases. For the most part, it would not be wise to use such an individual. Social Security Disability Law is reasonably detailed and appearing before a federal administrative law judge at a hearing should only be a task performed by a representative who has a strong knowledge of how disability claims are decided, how SSA makes mistakes on claims, and what types of evidence will be required to persuade a disability examiner or a disability judge to approve a claim. Additionally, a good familiarity with the following will all be necessary to ensure the best possible representation for a claimant: A) The SSA Disablity Evaluation handbook (the blue book), B) How onset, or when a condition began, is determined according to the social security administration (for example, alleged onset, or AOD, as claimed by an applicant versus the established onset of disability, or EOD, that is decided by a disability examiner or administrative law judge after a decision has been rendered), and C) The medical vocational guidelines that guide most of the decisions delivered on claims. Unfortunately, a "part-time" disability lawyer may not be up to the task of delivering such qualifications. A disability representative, as was stated, can also be a non-attorney. Such individuals are often former SSA employees, such as hearing office personnel, social security field office personnel, and former disability examiners (examiners make decisions on disability claims at the disability application and reconsideration appeal levels). These individuals, owing to the fact that they have a personal familiarity with the disability system and how it works, from an insider's perspective, often make excellent representatives. However, not every non-attorney representative is a former employee of the system. And for this reason, claimants may wish to inquire into the credentials of their possible representative, regardless of whether they are an attorney or a non-attorney representative. Continued at: The Cost and Expenses of a Disability Attorney or a Disability Representative 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Topics and Questions 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 |