Can a Lawyer Help You File for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability (SSD) is a federal financial program designed to assist individuals with disabilities. SSD payments typically come on a monthly basis and can vary depending on the applicant’s level of need. The challenge with SSD can be proving to the U.S. Social Security Administration that you do, in fact, qualify for SSD benefits. With hundreds of thousands of applications processed each month, a good number of these claims are denied.

The good news is that a denied SSD claim can be appealed; however, it’s a good idea to involve an SSD attorney to help file the appeal if you have already been denied once. In fact, hiring an SSD lawyer from the start is a great way to give your first application the best chance at success.

If you are unable to work due to long-term injuries or illness, you may be eligible to file for SSD benefits.

It can be difficult to know who is eligible to receive SSD benefits, but one of the biggest indicators is when an individual is unable to work or unable to work full-time due to an ongoing injury or illness. In this scenario, the injured or ill person can apply to the Social Security Administration for help. However, people often run into trouble when it comes to the Administration’s definition of “disability”. There are certain requirements an applicant must be able to meet for their medical condition to be considered a disability. Additionally, the applicant must be able to prove that these limitations are true. This is where the SSD application process can become tricky, and may be greatly benefited by the experience of an SSD attorney who knows exactly what kind of proof the Administration wants to see.

An SSD lawyer can protect you from the common mistakes people make on their applications.

Even one mistake could result in a denial of an otherwise valid SSD claim; from incomplete or incorrectly filled out paperwork to a lack of medical documentation, there are many ways an applicant can be their own worst enemy in the application process. SSD applicants who do not provide a thorough picture of their disability, forget to include all medical conditions or fail to follow the advice of their doctor could all face rejection on their SSD application.

In a process that can be convoluted to begin with, qualifying for SSD benefits can feel impossible. This is one of the biggest reasons why experts recommend hiring an SSD lawyer. Social Security Disability lawyers have seen just about every mistake in the book and can help guide you around potential pitfalls both in the initial application and if you have to file an appeal.

An SSD lawyer may also be able to help you combine long-term disability insurance benefits.

The other way an attorney can help when someone is unable to work due to their disability is by evaluating other options for support. Some individuals may have access to long-term disability benefits through their employer’s insurance program. When this is the case, the disabled person may be able to qualify for long-term disability insurance benefits in addition to SSD benefits.

However, the continuing obstacle to qualifying for long-term disability insurance benefits is that the claims process can be complicated with a high chance of denial. Just as an experienced attorney can streamline the SSD application process and improve your chances of acceptance, a good SSD attorney will know how to identify additional options for recovery as well as how to pursue those options to give their client the best chance possible at success.

To learn more about Social Security Disability benefits, or for help filing, reach out to an Social Security Disability attorney.