You may have heard the term "fighting for my disability benefits." Perhaps you thought, that's a very strong term.
Actually, the phrase fighting for Social Security disability accurately describes most experiences.
It's a legal fight where you, the claimant, goes up against the US government. You want and need benefits because you aren't able to work. The government is skeptical and demands an almost impossible burden of proof. On top of that, they have a long record of denying about 73 percent of new claims for disability benefits.
Most claimants will literally have a legal fight, going through 3 different processes before they get paid. The fight may last from 12 to 36 months.
As in any legal fight, your best chance to prevail is by getting an experienced and well trained advocate to lead your fight. Social Security is going to throw things your way that you can't possibly understand because you are new to this fracas.
So, where is the final battle usually fought? Usually, it's in a hearing before a federal administrative law judge (ALJ). The judge has more training and more authority to make decisions than anyone you've encountered previously. And the judge is going to be the first time you have appeared before a high level decision maker and had him or her listen to your case and review your evidence.
By the time you get before this judge, 2 or 3 years may have passed since you first filed your claim. You have been denied twice before. Your advocate/attorney will ask the judge to award you past due benefits for the months or years that you've had to wait for justice. And they often do. I recently was able to get over $100,000 in past due benefits for a claimant who had been fighting for his rights for a long time. For him, it was a life changing miracle.
I think the worst thing you could do is quit and give up the fight short of the final battle. Stay the course! Win the race!
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THE FORSYTHE FIRM in Huntsville has helped thousands of individuals get the disability benefits they deserve. We will deal with the government for you, leaving you free to live your life. We will never charge you any fees until you win your case AND collect the back pay that is due. Call us: (256) 799-0297.
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