Filing For Disability Benefits: 3 Reasons To Consider Hiring A Lawyer To Represent You

Posted on: 27 January 2018

You can file for disability benefits on your own, but there are plenty of reasons to consider hiring a lawyer to help you get the job done. Following are just a few of the most notable reasons to have an experienced disability attorney represent you:

You're Having Trouble With the Initial Paperwork

When initially filing for disability benefits, you'll need to provide a lot of paperwork and information to the social security administration. In addition to basic documents such as your social security card and a recent W-2 form, you'll likely be asked to provide the following:

  • Medical records from doctors and caseworkers to help prove your inability to work.

  • Lab and test results that back up your disability claims.

  • Medication information.

You'll also need to provide proof of marriage and answer questions about any family members who may also qualify to receive benefits under your claim. If you don't have all of the required paperwork, don't know how to locate it, or simply feel overwhelmed about the application process, it's a good idea to hire a lawyer to complete the application for you. They'll know where to find the paperwork you need and how to properly file it at the social security office.

Your Application Gets Denied

If your initial disability application is denied, there is still a possibility that you can get the benefits you're seeking by appealing the decision you've been given. An experienced disability lawyer knows what it takes to file an appeal quickly and efficiently so you aren't left in limbo. And if your appeal is denied too, your attorney will take your case to court and represent you there. This will help ensure that you have every possible opportunity to win your disability claim.

You Need Help Managing Your Case

It can take 3 to 5 months, or even longer, for your disability application to be reviewed, in which time the documents you originally submitted may become out of date. If this happens, you may be asked to update them when your application is reviewed. For instance, your most recent medical records might have to be submitted to prove that you are still disabled as your application states.

You will also probably receive quite a bit of paperwork in the mail while you're waiting for a decision to be made, which can be confusing and overwhelming. If you've hired a lawyer to represent you, they can take care of all the paperwork for you. Contact a firm, like Jeffrey Buskirk & Associates, for more help.

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