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If you’re unable to work due to a disability, you may be considering applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.
Unfortunately, filing for SSD benefits can be a complicated and confusing process. More than 60% of applicants are denied, often due to avoidable errors in paperwork or missed deadlines.
Although you don’t technically need an attorney to represent you when filing for SSD benefits, having a knowledgeable disability lawyer on your side can help you avoid common pitfalls and improve your chances for recovering the financial security you need. In this post, the Cincinnati disability attorneys at Young, Reverman & Mazzei discuss the benefits of consulting with a lawyer who has specific experience with SSD claims.
How a Disability Attorney Can Help
Recent studies indicate that claimants who were represented by an attorney were three times more likely to be awarded SSD benefits. The success rate was even higher during the appeals process.
An experienced disability attorney can help you during the initial application process, as well as at the hearing level if your application was denied. Disability attorneys understand the laws surrounding SSD benefits and how to best present a case in court if necessary.
During the initial application process, a disability lawyer can help you understand the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Blue Book listings for disabilities and help ensure that your disability and supporting materials meet the SSD benefits criteria. A disability attorney can assist you in gathering the necessary documentation from doctor offices and hospitals where you’ve received treatment, reducing the possibility of denial due to insufficient medical proof.
If your SSD application was denied, a disability attorney can help you appeal by collecting and submitting relevant medical evidence on your behalf, obtaining expert opinions from physicians to support your claim, and drafting a detailed brief to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). An attorney will prepare you for questioning at the SSA disability hearing and guide your testimony so the judge has an understanding of how your disability has impacted your ability to work.
When to Talk with a Disability Attorney
Regardless of where you are in the SSD process, consulting with a disability attorney can be beneficial. The Cincinnati disability lawyers at Young, Reverman & Mazzei offer free, no-obligation consultations to help you determine whether you may qualify for benefits or have a valid case for appeal.
Working with a disability attorney prior to submitting your initial application for benefits can safeguard you from common mistakes that cause many otherwise qualified SSD candidates to be rejected. Among the most common reasons disability claims are denied include incomplete applications, inadequate medical documentation, and missed filing deadlines.
Some individuals attempt to apply for SSD benefits on their own, only to be denied even though they have a qualifying disability. In these instances, a disability attorney may be able to successfully appeal your case or assist you in preparing for a hearing before an ALJ.
Experienced Disability Attorneys Serving Cincinnati and Beyond
The Cincinnati disability lawyers at Young, Reverman & Mazzei have an extensive record of success helping disabled individuals and their families recover the financial benefits they need.
If you have questions about filing your initial SSD application or believe your application for benefits was wrongfully denied, please call us today at 800-721-1678 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Our attorneys are proud to represent disabled individuals from the greater Cincinnati and Dayton areas, as well as our neighbors in eastern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Please see our Locations page for a full list of our offices and directions.
