Does Being Represented On A Disability Claim Win The Case Faster?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Being represented does not necessarily win the case faster at any level of the Social Security disability process. However, representation may win an applicant disability benefits sooner. Prior to your disability hearing, a representative usually just makes sure your disability claim keeps moving through the Social Security disability process by filing your reconsideration appeal and request for a social security hearing timely.

Representation at the initial Social Security disability claim level often has little or no affect upon the outcome of your disability determination nor does it have any affect on the over all processing time of the disability claim. Note: Having said this, however, there are disability representatives who make a strong, expert, and determined attempt to win disability cases at the earliest level possible. Those that do have a high success rate and these representatives are worth the fee that they are paid.

At the disability application level, representation is especially helpful to those who do not have the ability to do things such as provide needed information, complete forms, or remember consultative examination appointments, etc.

If a disability applicant has severe mental disorders, memory problems, physical conditions that severely restrict their ability to keep up with their disability claim, or even severe anxiety and depression issues, they may be advised to consider representation.

At the reconsideration appeal level, the approval rate is only about ten to fifteen percent and a claimant is not likely to be approved for disability unless there was clear error in the decision made on their disability application, or unless they have a very organized and determined disability attorney or disability representative.

Representation on a disability claim at the administrative law judge hearing is more likely to win you disability benefits. In fact, the ALJ disability hearing is the most wins versus any other level of the Social Security disability process. National statistics indicate disability applicants who have representation at their ALJ disability hearing are about twenty to twenty five percent more likely to win their disability case.

Attorneys and non-attorney representatives win more disability cases because they know Social Security disability regulations, guidelines, and vocational rules. Generally, they are able to portray your disability case in a light that is most favorable to you. Considering the wait times for administrative law judge hearings, it would seem advisable to consider disability representation at some point. However, if a case has gotten to the point where a hearing has either been requested, or will be requested, it would be, in most cases, be unwise to proeceed unrepresented.