Your chances of winning disability with a lawyer may be higher than without one, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office. This is likely because a lawyer can easily prepare a very thorough disability claim and, if necessary, appeal a claim denial.
To learn more, you can consult with our firm. We can answer your questions about Social Security Disability, and one of our disability lawyers can file your claim for you. Your lawyer can do much more to help you get approved.
What Are the Chances of Getting Approved for Disability?
If a claimant files for Social Security Disability (SSD) on their own, there’s a small chance their claim will be approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This claim could be either a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim or a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim. (A claimant can file claims for both programs.)
However, there’s a good chance their claim will be denied by the SSA, instead. If the claim is denied, the claimant will have to appeal the decision with the SSA. It can be difficult for a claimant to make their case on their own.
What Are Your Chances of Winning Disability With a Lawyer?
If you file for SSD with a lawyer, your chances of winning may be higher, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office. They say that, “on average, the odds of being allowed benefits for claimants with attorney representation are 3.3 times higher than the odds of being allowed benefits for claimants without attorney representation.”
This is likely because a lawyer can easily prepare a thorough disability claim and appeal a claim denial. A claimant can do these things, but a disability lawyer is able to do them more effectively.
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What Disqualifies a Person From Disability?
A person may not be qualified for disability or may be denied disability if any of the following is true or if the SSA believes any of the following is true:
- The person’s medical condition won’t last a year or more or lead to loss of life
- The person is not disabled
- The person is receiving benefits already
- The person has not been lawfully employed for 5 or more out of the last 10 years (This applies to SSDI)
- The person has been able to pay into the Social Security system or has not been able to pay into it (This determines whether the person can qualify for SSDI or SSI)
- The person does not have limited income and assets (This applies to SSI)
What Does a Disability Lawyer Do?
One of the disability lawyers from our firm can do a lot to help you. In fact, your lawyer can do all of the following to help your case:
- Establish that you qualify for SSD: Your lawyer will ensure none of the aforementioned disqualifiers apply to you. Your lawyer can even check whether you qualify for both SSDI and SSI.
- Prepare a statement: For your claim, your lawyer can prepare a statement about your qualification for an SSD program and benefits.
- Collect proof: Your lawyer will collect proof of your qualification, including your W-2 forms, your tax returns, an Adult Disability Report, your medical records, your doctors’ reports, and more.
- File your claim: Your lawyer will file through the correct channel.
On top of all that, if your claim is denied for any reason, your lawyer can appeal. To do this, your lawyer can:
- Establish the reason your claim was denied
- Prepare a counterstatement
- Collect additional proof, if necessary
- Appeal with the SSA who may reverse their decision
- Request a hearing with a judge if the SSA preserves their decision
- Request a review from the Appeals Council if the judge denies the appeal
- Demand a review from the Federal Court and file a lawsuit if the council denies the appeal
Learn About Your Chances of Winning Disability With a Lawyer
Your chances of winning disability with a lawyer are much much better than without one. One of our firm’s Social Security Disability attorneys in NC or SC can file a thorough claim for you, appeal a claim denial, and, if necessary, escalate your case all the way to court. We’ve been able to help over 10,000 clients in North Carolina and South Carolina, including many clients like you, so you should be confident we can help you.
To learn more, consult with us. We’ll answer any other questions you have for us, and then we’ll advise you about your case. Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today.