Do You Really Need A Social Security Appeal Lawyer?There comes a time where a claimant in pursuit of social security disability benefits realizes that they need an attorney to help them. This occurs at a different time for each claimant depending on how confident they are in their ability to handle the appeal process. For many though, hiring a social security appeal lawyer should be done before they file their initial appeal. After a person sends in their claim for benefits they are likely waiting in anticipation for a check to arrive. Typically that check doesn't arrive and instead they should expect to receive a notice explaining whether or not they've qualified for benefits. If they have, they have absolutely no reason to retain a social security attorney. If they've been denied they may want to think about consulting with a lawyer who specializes in this area of the law. The Request for Reconsideration is the first set of documents that are filled out in the appeal process. These need to be sent within two months of the claim being denied. If the claimant is lax and doesn't send them in within the sixty day deadline, their claim is automatically denied yet again. Hiring an attorney to help with the Request for Reconsideration is a great idea. Many claimants don't understand exactly what is required in terms of medical documentation as well as pertinent information. An attorney who knows social security disability does. If the Request for Reconsideration is again returned, as denied, a lawyer becomes even more crucial. The reason is that the next step in the appeal process involved a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. No layperson should ever attend a hearing like this without representation. They need someone who understands the finer points of social security disability law to present a compelling argument to the judge. If the Administrative Law Judge also denies the case, the claimant then need to present his or her case to the social security appeals council. A competent attorney puts together an argument that typically focuses on an error made by the Administrative Law Judge. The claimant obviously cannot do this themselves. There is always some concern regarding the cost of an attorney. Most people awaiting social security disability benefits are living on a very restricted budget. For this reason, most lawyers who handle these cases charge a fee once the case has been resolved. This can vary slightly but generally it averages around 25% of the back payment the claimant will receive once the claim is approved. Some lawyers also include a minimum amount of payment in the contract in case the case is resolved in a timely manner. A claimant might expect this to be anywhere from $3000 - $5000. |