Wednesday 23 January 2013

A must read before filing your disability claims

Those individuals who are preparing to apply for disability benefits might be wondering how long does a social security disability claim take? Well, it's a difficult question to answer as disability claims may take around thirty days or it may even take over 24 months. An applicant has to begin the process by filing an initial disability claim with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Once the initial claim is filed, it is forwarded to the particular state disability agency for medical verification. If the individual's claim is approved on the first instance then the entire process can get over anywhere from thirty to ninety days. However, most initial claims are rejected by the SSA and hence, it can take longer depending on availability of medical documents, further consultative examinations etc.

Now, when an individual's initial disability claim is denied, he/she is left with two options: Either file an appeal against the denial or file a new disability claim. But, it is highly advisable not to file a new claim. If you have faced rejection from the SSA, filing an appeal would be the best option.

Filing a disability claim can be very confusing for an applicant because of its technicalities and stringent regulations. Therefore, hiring the services of an experienced disability lawyer is crucial.

Selecting the best lawyer for your case

Like most other claims, getting a successful result for disability claims can be equally difficult. Although, with the help of expertise of a competent legal adviser, you have much better chances of a positive outcome. But the most difficult part of the entire procedure is to select the right disability lawyers for your case.

How to hire the right disability lawyer

You can surf through the Internet and check the webpages of disability lawyers in your locality. Study their experience, past achievements and portfolio. Their webpages will also have the contact details. Hire the lawyer who has fought and won cases similar to yours in the past. Try to contact the lawyer's past clients. They will give you best opinion on the expertise of that lawyer. Even, associations of legal professionals, consumer welfare organizations and relevant online communities can give recommendations, feedback and review of legal services and attorneys in your area. Moreover, before finalizing any law firm or attorney arrange a meeting to ensure that you are comfortable sharing your personal details with that lawyer. Determine the actual fees of the services and whether the lawyer will charge monthly fees, fees per court session or will the lawyer take certain percent from your benefits money.

Hiring the services of a legal expert will ensure that no major or minor mistake from your end can lead to rejection of claims.

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