Social Security Disability Lawyer Blog

1. Speed up the process

Although a Social Security disability attorney can't make the SSA work faster on your claim, he/she does intimately understand the system and can help you find shortcuts that allow you to obtain benefits without the hassle and wait. An experienced lawyer will be able to assess your situation quickly and expedite your claim while ensuring that nothing is missed.

2. Relieve stress

If you're applying for Social Security disability benefits, your health is obviously suffering. Why make it worse by dealing with the stress associated with applying for Social Security disability benefits? An attorney can gather the necessary medical records and fill out the required paperwork for you, so you can focus on your health. A lawyer will also be there to answer any questions you may have throughout the entire process.

3. Increase your chances of winning

Statistics show that hiring a lawyer can improve your chances of winning Social Security disability benefits. The best attorneys are aggressive about gathering enough medical evidence to prove the severity of your medical condition and your inability to engage in substantial gainful work.

4. You only have to pay your lawyer if you win your case

Hiring an Atlanta Social Security disability attorney is truly risk-free because you only have to pay your lawyer if you win your case. The SSA limits the amount of money an attorney can be paid on a case to the lesser of $6,000 or 25%. Social Security disability lawyers typically offer free consultations and don't charge upfront fees. The SSA withholds the fee from your retroactive check and sends it directly to your attorney. It's clearly in your lawyer's best interest to help you win your case because he/she will only get paid if you win.

Win Your Case with the Help of Social Security Disability Attorney Louis B. Lusk

For example, many claimants get angry because of delays, but most delays in Social Security disability cases are not the lawyers' fault. Disability cases generally take a long time to process because state disability determination agencies are understaffed and overworked.

Another common reason why people want to fire their Atlanta Social Security disability lawyers is that they feel like their lawyer is unresponsive. "My lawyer won't return my calls" is the most common complaint I hear from people dissatisfied with their current representation. In my practice, I make it a point to have my clients speak with me or my paralegal every time they call my office.

How to Terminate Your Lawyer

If you want to fire your Atlanta Social Security disability lawyer, call him and send him a letter, letting him know that you no longer want him to represent you. Your attorney then has to send a letter of withdrawal to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to inform them that he'll be withdrawing from your case. If the SSA doesn't receive a letter of withdrawal and you hire a new lawyer to represent you, they may leave both lawyers' information on your claim.

Better to Pick the Right Attorney the First Time

It is far less complicated to choose an Atlanta Social Security disability lawyer carefully in the beginning, so you start and finish the claims process with the same lawyer. However, firing your Social Security disability attorney may become a necessity if your case isn't receiving the attention it deserves.

Looking for a Qualified Atlanta Social Security Disability Lawyer?

If you have a disability and need to file a Social Security Disability claim, you may be thinking about hiring a lawyer to apply for benefits on your behalf. Although working with a Social Security Disability lawyer isn't mandatory, studies have shown that hiring legal representation can significantly increase your chances of winning your claim. Nevertheless, many claimants are reluctant to take the plunge and hire an attorney because they think it'll be too expensive or they don't have any money to pay a lawyer. After all, if you have a disability and are unable to work, you're probably facing financial difficulties as a result.

Find a Lawyer Who Works on a Contingency Fee Basis

Hire a Social Security Disability lawyer who works on a contingency fee basis, or in other words, a lawyer who won't get paid unless he wins your case. That way, you won't be required to pay any upfront fees out of pocket. Just keep in mind that some lawyers who charge on a contingency fee basis do make their clients pay retainer fees or consultation fees before working on your case.

If your attorney wins your Social Security Disability case, he will be entitled to 25% of your back benefits, up to a maximum fee cap established by federal law. At the time of writing, the maximum fee cap is $6,000. The fees will come out of your back pay and the Social Security Administration (SSA) will pay them directly to your attorney, so there'll be one less hassle for you to deal with. The SSA will also deduct out-of-pocket expenses your lawyer incurs, such as photocopying fees and the costs of retrieving medical records and reports, from your back benefits. The SSA must approve the fee agreement prior to deducting any fees from your back benefits.

Social Security Disability Attorneys Are Affordable

Compared to the expense of hiring an attorney in other types of cases, the cost of working with a Social Security Disability attorney is affordable. By law, no Social Security Disability lawyer is allowed to charge more than 25% of past-due benefits. On the other hand, personal injury lawyers, who also offer contingency payment plans, charge up to 40% of the claimant's award.

Looking for an Atlanta Social Security Disability Attorney?

Although people commonly hire an Atlanta Social Security disability attorney once their claim has been denied, there's no reason not to hire a lawyer to help you file your initial claim. An attorney can file the claim on your behalf, prepare your case so that it meets the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) requirements, and collect medical records that provide evidence of your disability. If your initial claim has already been denied, your attorney can file a request for reconsideration and help you with every step of the appeals process.

Any good Atlanta Social Security disability attorney should be willing to review your case at no charge. Furthermore, the best Social Security disability attorneys will not require you to pay upfront fees and will only charge you if they win your case. Other factors to consider when choosing a Social Security disability attorney include the following:

 Reputation. When selecting an Atlanta Social Security disability attorney, evaluate their reputation by reading testimonials from previous clients, reading online reviews, checking his/her status with the local Better Business Bureau, and asking for references.
 Experience. Find out how many years the attorney has been practicing law. While it's possible for a new attorney to win your case, generally, the more experience a lawyer has, the better off you'll be.
 Success rate. To get an idea of what an attorney's track record is like, ask about his/her success rate.
 Interviews. Don't hesitate to interview the lawyers you're considering over the phone or in person to determine if they're a good fit.

When you are interviewing Atlanta Social Security disability attorneys, ask lots of questions, including the following:

 How many people will work on my file?
 What are your fees?
 Will you attend appointments or hearings with me?
 Do you charge any extra fees for particular services?
 How long do you think the process will take?
 Is there a cap on the amount of times I can call you and ask you questions about my case?
 How often will you check with the SSA about my claim?
 Have you worked on a case similar to mine before?