| | | | | claimant may either request for faster scheduling or |
| Disability entails a lot of hardships. Aside from physical | | | | ask a senator or congressman to inquire on their claim. |
| inadequacy, financial burden is also experienced. | | | | |
| However, persons with disability may no longer fear | | | | The above steps are difficult for a non-attorney to |
| for their sustenance because of disability benefits | | | | understand and follow. It is important to secure the |
| under the Social Security. | | | | services of a disability-hearing attorney. |
| | | | | |
| However, to apply for Social Security Disability benefits | | | | A Representative’s Duty |
| based on disability, a person must first make a claim. | | | | |
| Usually, once an Examiner has all the medical facts | | | | An applicant may file a claim with or without the aid of |
| gathered, a claim decision follows shortly. | | | | a representative. This representative may be a lawyer |
| Sad to say, in most cases, the decision on a disability | | | | or not. |
| claim will be a denial. | | | | |
| Disability Hearing Attorney | | | | Usually, a Representative does everything needed to |
| | | | | prepare a case for its scheduled hearing. This |
| Winning a disability claim does not only depend on | | | | preparation includes: |
| whether a case is good or bad. It also requires hard | | | | |
| work from a brilliant and experienced hearing attorney. | | | | 1. Obtaining a copy of a claimant's social security file |
| | | | | |
| According to the Social Security Administration, | | | | 1. Securing a claimant's most recent medical records |
| approximately 70% of all Social Security Disability & | | | | for the ALJ |
| SSI claims for disability are denied at the Initial level. | | | | |
| Therefore, claimants who are denied for disability | | | | 1. Employing a Physician to complete statements |
| benefits should not give up on their claims but, instead, | | | | supporting the claim holder's case and submitting these |
| should request an appeal after their claims have been | | | | to the ALJ |
| denied. | | | | |
| | | | | Once the preparation on a case is finished, the |
| Regrettably, the rate of denial on reconsiderations is | | | | Attorney or non Attorney Representative will study |
| even higher as over 80% of social security & SSI | | | | the file so, by the time of the hearing, an argument can |
| claims for disability at the reconsideration level are | | | | be made for approving the disability claim. |
| denied. If this happens, you should not be alarmed. | | | | During the hearing, the Representative will emphasize |
| Social Security attorneys who handle Disability claims | | | | to the judge evidence supporting an Approval of the |
| for a living know that most reconsiderations will be | | | | claim. |
| denied. The next appeal for a disability claim, of course, | | | | |
| is a hearing with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). | | | | During trial, your attorney plays a significant role in the |
| | | | | outcome of the decision. The decision will be delivered |
| At this stage, a Request for Hearing should always be | | | | to you within 6 months or so. |
| made after reconsideration has been denied. This is | | | | |
| because most reconsiderations are treated as a | | | | If you are wise enough, you should engage the |
| rubber stamping of the first denial. This will take within | | | | services of a disability-hearing officer for higher |
| 60 days. | | | | chances of success. |
| | | | | |
| The claim will not go to the Office of Hearings & | | | | |
| Appeal. A claimant's case will be assigned to a Judge | | | | |
| who, at some point, will hold a hearing to approve or | | | | Our Social Security attorneys are experts in providing |
| deny the claim. | | | | representations for disability claimants. For more |
| | | | | inquiries and advice, log on to and seek the assistance |
| The setting of the Hearing Date can take months. The | | | | of our legal staff. |