5 Questions to Ask When Hiring Social Security Disability Attorneys

When you want to apply for Social Security Disability benefits for the first time, or if your claim has been denied and now you have to go through an appeal process, there is certainly no denying the fact that all of this can be rather complex and time consuming, as well as, of course, frustrating. So, you may not want to go through it alone. In fact, you should definitely not go through it alone, because you will have much higher chances of success if you, instead, have the right professionals on your side.

What kinds of professionals am I talking about here, though? Well, to cut right to the chase, I am referring to the fact that you will have to hire a Social Security Disability Attorney to represent you in a case like this. That is sure to make things much easier for yourself, and there is no denying the fact that you will get to relax a bit, knowing that you have an expert on your side, handling everything on your behalf and fighting for your rights.

A great Social Security Disability attorney knows how to navigate the system and the whole process. They will gather medical evidence, prepare the appeals, communicate with the SSA, as well as represent you during hearings. So, it should be absolutely clear to everyone already that hiring these experts is, without a doubt, the right thing to do.

Yet, while you may understand the need for hiring one of these experts, you may not exactly know how to hire the right one. And, well, what we are going to do right now, thus, is provide you with a list of some questions that you should ask those potential candidates that you will find through recommendations or online searches. Questions that should help you ultimately make the best choice. Without any more ado, thus, let us get started.

• How Much Experience Do You Have With Cases Like These?

Okay, clearly, one of the first questions you should ask is how experienced the potential candidates actually are when it comes to Social Security Disability law and to cases similar to yours. After all, disability law definitely involves some specific procedures, regulations, as well as evidence requirements that differ from some other areas of the law, and you want to hire an attorney that has experience with those. So, ask if this is their primary area of practice and how many years they have actually been handling disability claims.

Read about the eligibility criteria for disability benefits: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html

• What Is Your Success Rate?

It is not enough for a lawyer to simply have worked on their fair share of cases like these. You also want them to have been successful. And, of course, no attorney will be able to guarantee that your claim will be approved, but it is still helpful to inquire about their past results, as that could give you an idea about what to expect. So, ask about the percentage of their clients that have received disability benefits, and check what types of disability claims they handle most frequently. The answers will give you some insight into whether certain attorneys can build a strong case for you.

• What Would the Process for My Claim Be?

You probably already know that the Social Security Disability process actually involves several stages, such as the initial application, hearings, reconsideration, as well as potential appeals. So, you want to ask this question because a knowledgeable attorney will surely be ready and able to clearly outline what it is that you should expect in all of the stages, as well as let you know how they will assist you throughout the entire process. This will help you not only check what to expect, but also get better prepared for the process, and more confident about it.

• How Long Will the Case Take?

Once again, no attorney can provide you with an exact timeline regarding your case. But, they should be able to give you a general estimate based on what they know about your case, and based on their actual experience. So, ask how long the attorney believes that your case will take, as well as what factors may affect the timeline, and how often you will actually receive updates about your claim. Getting answers will help you set realistic expectations, which is definitely important. Additional info on these types of benefits.

• How Much Do You Charge?

Of course, you shouldn’t make any final hiring decisions before discussing the costs of this as well. What you want to know is what percentage the lawyer charges, as well as whether there are any additional expenses that you should be aware of, and whether you will owe anything if the claim is denies. A great professional will be ready to explain the fee structure straightforwardly and clearly.