When you choose to hire a Social Security lawyer to file your Social Security claim for you, he or she will have many roles throughout the process. Thanks to their many roles and experience in the legal system, they will take care of everything for you, so you don’t need to worry about any part of the process.
Researcher
The first phase preceding any successful legal claim is research – both into the claimant, the organization, and their rules.
Therefore, your lawyer will be knowledgeable when it comes to all the proper processes as well as deadlines when it comes to filing your claim. Working with a lawyer means your claim should always be up to par with current regulations and should always be filed within your state’s Statutes of Limitations.
In Michigan, for example, you have two years to file your claim following an accident that left you disabled and unable to carry out standard work activities like lifting, standing, or remembering. This alone can be overwhelming for private citizens who attempt to represent themselves during their application period, so getting in touch with a benefits lawyer is worth it.
When it comes to a Social Security claim, your lawyer will research into your condition and how it falls under the current definition of disability set forth by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Since the definition is so specific, your condition needs to be presented and described in such a way that validates the necessary requirements. If he or she has the information, but insufficient proof, they will move on to the next step, playing their next role.
Investigator
If, after the initial research phase, your Social Security benefits lawyer has determined that your case is still on the weaker side, they will become your personal investigator.
They will contact your previous workplaces to collect supporting anecdotes regarding your disability. For example, they may be able to uncover a personal testimony from a former co-worker who often saw you had to take breaks due to intense pain after lifting light objects. This is something that you may not have been able to achieve or even thought of as an individual representing yourself.
Lawyers will also contact your doctors, surgeons, and other medical caregivers that have interacted with you since your disability developed. As a private citizen, you likely do not have access to all of this information, even if it pertains to your own health.
The materials which result from the investigation phase make your claim much stronger and heighten your chances of approval, even if it is only your first time applying for benefits.
Lawyer
And of course, your Social Security disability lawyers will also take charge of typical law-related tasks, starting with the actual filing of your claim. Following the filing, your lawyer will also represent you should any hearings be necessary to validate the seriousness of your disability.
In the case that your initial claim is denied, your lawyer will find out why exactly it was denied and fight to have the decision overturned during the appeals process.
Emotional support system
Your lawyer will also act as an integral part of your emotional support system as you apply for Social Security benefits. The process can be taxing and almost impossible alone. A lawyer by your side will help you remain calm and give you regular updates about the status of your claim and how to proceed, should you encounter a hurdle along the way.
Most Social Security lawyers and their firms offer first-time clients a free consultation regarding their specific case. Not only will they be able to give you helpful information about their team, but also their gut instinct when it comes to the probable success of your claim.
Having a successful and experienced attorney by your side throughout the claims process will help you reduce your stress levels or anxiety when it comes to Social Security benefits.
