Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits are those based on disability, which can come in handy for those who have sustained an injury or are otherwise unable to work. SSD benefits are set in motion by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in order to ensure no U.S. citizen will ever be met with financial hardships because of disability, injury, or impairment. The SSA has a series of policies and regulations in place in order to assist those who cannot work or earn a living for themselves because of a disability. With that in mind, SSD benefits are designed to support those living with a disability, but they aren’t always easy to apply for. In fact, many SSD applications get rejected because of minor errors on the application, which is where a knowledgeable SSD attorney will come in handy.
So, how exactly do you know when it’s time to hire an SSD attorney? The most important thing to keep in mind is that your chances of being approved for SSD benefits are much, much greater when you hire an SSD attorney. While many people who apply on their own get approved, statistics show that the SSA is more likely to approve an applicant who has legal counsel than one who does not.
Let’s now look at a few ways an SSD attorney can help your case:
- They can walk you through the initial application process
- They will represent you at the Social Security hearing and beyond
- They know how to present a case in the most favorable light
- They can offer advice on the initial application, including what you should put for the “alleged onset date” of disability
- This is important, as many applications get rejected because of what the applicant puts here
- They can argue that your condition does indeed meet the requirements of listed impairments in Social Security’s policy book
- They can help you focus on the facts that Social Security cares most about
- They can collect and submit relevant medical evidence to support your claim
- They can obtain an opinion and recommendation from your doctor supporting your claim
- They can draft and submit a brief to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in order to support your claim
- They can prepare you for the judge’s questions at the hearing
- They can help with your testimony and even cross-examine a medical expert or vocation expert in order to further demonstrate you are unable to work
- If your application is initially denied, they can represent you during the appeals process to the Appeals Council and federal court
- Your SSD attorney will be able to come up with sophisticated and smart legal argument that will show that your SSD benefits should not have been denied and that you are indeed a good candidate for these benefits
As you can see, there are many ways an SSD attorney can help your case. If you have additional questions about when you should call an SSD lawyer or would like to learn more about SSD benefits in Oklahoma, please do not hesitate to contact AMA Law today. We know how stressful it can be to apply for Social Security benefits, which is why we are here to take the pressure off you and ensure your application gets approved the first time around.