Around 9 million people receive social security disability benefits each year.
If you can’t work because of disability, you might want to apply for these benefits.
Before going any further, you must know that hiring an attorney is crucial for your case. People who hire attorneys for their cases have a higher chance of getting approved for these benefits.
As you start searching for a potential lawyer, you might want to prepare to ask them the following five questions.
1. What Is Your Experience With Social Security Disability Claims?
The first step is looking up, “attorneys near me.” You’ll find a list of lawyers that offer social security disability services, and you can interview one or more.
Before you hire an attorney, ask them about their experience. You must have a lawyer with plenty of experience, as social security disability cases can be challenging.
2. How Much Do You Charge?
As you find an attorney to represent you, it’s always vital to ask about their fees. Do they require upfront payments? If so, how much will you need?
The best attorneys generally don’t charge upfront payments for their services. Instead, they receive a percentage of the social security payments you receive.
The benefit of this is that you might not have to pay for these legal services unless you get approved for benefits.
3. What Are the Chances of Your Case Getting Approved?
Seeking legal help for a social security case is imperative because the court denies up to 70% of all requests they receive for disability benefits.
Therefore, you should explain your case to the social security disability lawyer and ask for their opinion on your chances of getting approved.
After hearing your case and seeing the evidence, the lawyer will explain what they think about your chances.
4. How Long Does the Process Take?
Discussing the process is another question to pose to the lawyers you interview. A good lawyer will explain the entire process to you and provide a timeline.
When you leave the interview, you’ll know what to expect in terms of timing and potential outcomes.
5. Do You Handle Appeals?
Finally, you can ask if the lawyer handles appeals. While most lawyers do, you might encounter some that don’t.
It’s vital to find a lawyer that handles appeals, though, as the chances of getting approved the first time around are low. If they deny your benefits the first time, you have the right to appeal their decision.
With the right legal help through the appeals process, you might have a higher chance of getting approved for the benefits after appealing your case once or twice.
Ask These Questions When Hiring an Attorney
Hiring an attorney is vital for a social security disability case, but selecting the right one is crucial. You can interview several attorneys that offer these services to choose the right one for your situation.
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