How Can a Local, Cincinnati Attorney Help Get Social Security Disability Approved?
Posted on Thursday, June 28th, 2018 at 11:53 am
The following post is part of our Law Student Blog Writing Project, and is authored by Jennifer Tressler, who is pursuing her Juris Doctorate at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
Social security disability attorneys can help make an overwhelming process seem much more manageable. While hiring a lawyer specializing in social security disability cases is not required, it will likely be extremely beneficial during a difficult time when your health is suffering. Social security disability attorneys have experience dealing with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, as such, will be able to handle any of the various issues that could arise during the application process. You can expect your social security disability benefits attorney to review your case with you and ask you a variety of questions, both to gather information on your case and to prepare you for questions you may be asked should a hearing be necessary in the future. Your social security disability attorney will function as the liaison and communicator between you and the SSA. This is just one of the duties that you can expect your social security disability attorney to carry out on your behalf. But it is an important one, as the language and application process of social security disability is complex and often foreign to the average person. At Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, Kelsey Westermeyer handles the vast majority of social security claims and consistently achieves high approval ratings.
How Can My Attorney Help Get Approval for SSDI Through the Cincinnati, Ohio or Florence, Kentucky Social Security Offices?
Another one of the duties of your social security disability attorney is to complete an initial review of your case. This will happen no matter at which stage of the application process you are. After this initial review, your social security disability attorney will determine the best strategy for you moving forward. He or she will assist you in crafting a compelling story around your case and develop some strategies for how your case will be won.
One of the most common (and significant!) mistakes made by individuals applying for social security disability benefits is filing with an incomplete claim. The majority of applicants for social security disability benefits are denied during the initial stages, mostly due to incomplete applications. Having your social security disability attorney review your application and ensure its completeness is one of the best ways to ensure your application will go undo review in the proper channels.
Your social security disability attorney will collect and sort medical evidence on your behalf. Many social security disability cases are won and lost on medical evidence. After obtaining proper medical release forms, your social security disability attorney will help you gather the relevant medical evidence needed for your application. He or she will review your medical records and work alongside you to collect any missing medical information or tests. Most importantly, he or she will sort through the hundreds of pages of medical documents to determine which information is the most important. Many social security disability attorneys will work directly with your medical provider, physician, or other healthcare provider to gather supportive opinion statements and letters. Having this evidence strengthens your case and makes it more likely that you will be granted social security disability benefits. Additionally, if your social security disability attorney determines that additional testing is necessary to bolster your application, he or she can request a consultative examination from the Social Security Administration doctors or ask that you get the additional testing completed on your own.
Your social security disability attorney is responsible for staying in communication with the Social Security Administration. The Social Security office is enormous and has an immense volume of claims pass through it. The application process of social security disability benefits is complex, filled with multiple deadlines and various formalities that must be adhered to. Your social security disability attorney will communicate directly with the SSA on your behalf, so that you have less to worry about regarding your application and more time to work on your health. Having a middleman communicate with the SSA on your behalf protects your best interests during this already stressful time. Your social security disability attorney will work to push your social security disability benefits application through the system with minimum effort and work from you.
How Can My Attorney Help Represent Me in Front of a Social Security Administrative Law Judge at a Hearing?
If needed, your social security disability attorney will file the necessary appeals for you. According to the Social Security Administration, less than forty percent of social security disability applications are approved at the initial application level. If your case is one that receives an initial denial, you are entitled to appeal the decision. The appeals process contains several specific and distinct steps that much each be completed within a certain amount of time. Hiring and retaining a social security disability attorney can help you navigate the appeals process, should your initial application be denied. To that end, your social security disability attorney will represent you at disability hearings, if necessary. The majority of successful disability claims are won at the hearing level. If you are originally denied disability benefits and you and your attorney appeal the decision, you are offered a hearing in front of an administrative law judge.
The hearing process is stressful, and having adequate preparation is critical to your success. Having a social security disability attorney will ensure that you are adequately prepared for your hearing. Though you will still need to speak for yourself, your social security disability attorney will represent you during the process and prepare you to testify. Your social security disability attorney will ask questions of your witnesses and address any expert witnesses, such as medical or vocational experts. If you have already been granted social security disability benefits but feel that you are not receiving adequate compensation, your social security disability attorney can help you request additional financial aid in the form of SSI benefits.
Your chances of success when applying for social security disability benefits dramatically improve if you are working with a social security disability attorney. Even if you are struggling financially due to your illness, hiring and working with a social security disability benefits attorney is well worth your time, energy, and money when you consider that without their help, winning your case can be exponentially more difficult. If you are overwhelmed by the social security disability benefits application process and would like some assistance from qualified, experienced individuals, contact Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC today. We can help you obtain that fresh start that you deserve! Call today for a free consultation at (859) 371.5997. We’re Working Hard for the Working Class, and we want to help you!
