| If a person is disabled and thus unable to work, he or | | | | the case is been handled by the administrative law |
| she has the right of pursuing a claim for social security | | | | judge, it is always advisable that the claimant is |
| disability getting it filled immediately. Many who have | | | | accompanied by an attorney or disability advocate. |
| made claims for disability benefits have experienced | | | | However, the claimant should have in mind that even |
| hardships and problems generally because they do not | | | | with a representation, there is no guarantee that social |
| know the length of the process involved and only | | | | security benefits will be awarded. However, he or she |
| realize later that it was better that they had filled an | | | | is assured that the case will be developed properly |
| application immediately. In case a claimant is denied his | | | | before it is taken for a hearing. It has been established |
| or her initial claim, he or she should immediately consult | | | | that majority of claimants do not prepare a disability |
| a social security attorney or a non attorney | | | | case properly prior to the hearing. The social security |
| representative who will provide representation and | | | | disability attorney comes in to assist the claimant |
| assist in the claim for both the past (back pay) and the | | | | applying the expertise and familiarity in regulations and |
| continuing benefits. | | | | rules of social security and thus is more likely to bring |
| Consulting an attorney would be very important, | | | | an outcome that is favorable. |
| reason being that disability system operates in a way | | | | Several claimants have opted to go for a claimant |
| that the claimant application may be approved on the | | | | hearing without the need of an attorney and though |
| initial application or may be forced to appeal with the | | | | some have gone ahead to win the award, the |
| case being presented before a judge. Though this | | | | chances are fewer than when he or she is |
| does not happen all the time, it is a predictable | | | | represented. The claimant may even realize that |
| occurrence when dealing with social security disability | | | | getting a disability hearing in the first place may take a |
| claims. Statistics have shown that initial claims are | | | | longer time than he or she had thought. Some of |
| denied sixty to seventy percent of the time, forcing the | | | | claimants who have been successful without the |
| claimants to ask for a hearing in order to be approved; | | | | assistance of a social security disability attorney or a |
| in most cases represented by a social security | | | | non attorney representative may not have stood a |
| disability attorney. | | | | chance of obtaining the benefits at their earliest |
| The fact is that many of disability claims will not be | | | | convenience. The claimant may also not get much in |
| successful at the initial claim or even at the | | | | back pay if he or she fails to obtain the onset date |
| reconsideration levels. This takes place even when the | | | | that is most favorable. The attorneys also assist the |
| claimant is represented by non attorney disability | | | | claimants in getting medical records and statements |
| advocate or a social security disability attorney. When | | | | from the claimant's doctor. |