If you are unable to work because of a disability, you might be considering applying for Social Security disability benefits. The process might seem overwhelming at first. Do you qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits? How do you even start the application process?
One reason many applicants talk to a Social Security disability lawyer is that a lawyer can walk you through every step of the process. Disability lawyers know what the Social Security Administration looks for on an application, and they can help ensure that your application is complete and thorough.
Dig into all the details below to learn more about what a Social Security disability lawyer can do for you.
Perform a Thorough Review of Your SSDI Claim
One of the first things a Social Security disability lawyer will do is to get thoroughly acquainted with your current situation. Whether you haven’t even applied yet or you are waiting for an appeal hearing, a lawyer will get into all the details of your current status and situation.
If you have already gotten a denial letter from Social Security, a lawyer can examine this letter to learn the reasons behind the denial. This information will help the lawyer put together a winning strategy to help you get approved for benefits on appeal.
Determine the Best Strategy for Getting You Approved
Next, your lawyer will start to plan out the best way to get you approved for disability benefits. To get approved, you must have a condition that meets Social Security’s definition of a disability. A lawyer can review your medical records and your current situation to determine which path forward is best for you.
There are generally three ways to show that you have a qualifying disability. Those are:
- Meeting a Social Security disability listing
- “Gridding out” of any type of work
- Having a condition that prevents you from performing even sedentary work
An experienced lawyer understands all the details of each of these scenarios. They can use your medical records, expert testimony, and other evidence to help prove that you fall into one of these categories and should be approved for benefits.
Addressing Gaps in Your Application
One of the biggest reasons why people do not get approved for benefits is that they give up too soon. The Social Security Administration often does not have all the information it needs to determine approval. In many cases, your application may be denied simply because it is incomplete, not because you do not have a qualifying disability.
An experienced disability lawyer can help review your application and find missing information. Your lawyer has the experience necessary to identify exactly what is missing from your application. Including all the proper and pertinent information may be enough to get you approved for benefits upon reconsideration.
Without this help, you might find yourself stuck in a string of denials over and over again.
Appealing Your Denial
The majority of Social Security disability applications are denied when they are initially submitted. After receiving a denial, you have the right to appeal that decision. There are four stages of appeal that you may go through, including:
- Request for reconsideration
- Hearing by an administrative law judge
- Appeals Council review
- Federal Court review
An experienced lawyer can help you in all of the above stages of appeal.
Very few disability cases end up making it all the way to Federal court. However, you would almost certainly need a disability lawyer to help you take your appeal to this level.
Contact a Social Security Disability Lawyer For Help
A Social Security disability lawyer can provide the guidance, strategy, and support you need to strengthen your claim and improve your chances of approval. Claimants who retain a lawyer to help them are 3 times more likely to be approved for benefits than those who are not represented.
If you need help with a Social Security disability claim, contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers today to schedule a consultation.
For more information, please contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in North Carolina today. We have five convenient locations in North Carolina, including Greenville, Raleigh, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, Kinston, Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Winston-Salem & Garner.
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