Almost everyone who gives advice about Social Security disability recommends an attorney or non-attorney advocate to help with the process.
That is because the disability process is so difficult. It is also confusing, time consuming and frustrating.
Here is what AARP says about Social Security representation:
A lawyer or advocate can fill out the SSDI or SSI application on your behalf and help gather medical records and other evidence for your claim. They can review your application for mistakes or omissions that could hurt your chances of success and can join you for meetings or conferences with Social Security officials. The SSA will work directly with your representative and provide access to information from your Social Security file.
Having an attorney or advocate can be especially important if you disagree with Social Security's initial decision on your claim and file an appeal.
Your representative can prepare you and any witnesses on your side to testify at a hearing before an administrative law judge, the second level in the appeals process, and can question expert witnesses that Social Security presents. A 2017 study by the federal Government Accountability Office found that people who are represented at disability hearings are nearly three times more likely to be successful. [End AARP Quot
Just knowing how to get medical evidence is a huge plus. Social Security will base their decision almost entirely on your medical record. While Social Security will request your medical records, they do not solicit your doctor's support in proving your case. However, your advocate or attorney will. The Forsythe Firm always tries to get a Medical Source Statement from your doctor and base a Residual Functional Capacity on what your doctor says. This often wins cases that would otherwise have been denied.
Your attorney/advocate can help you avoid dozens of pitfalls that can either delay your benefits or get them denied entirely. To be effective in the Social Security disability system, you need to know the rules, the process and the people involved.
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