For most people, the thought of having to deal with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims can be quite intimidating. When you add the stress of dealing with a debilitating injury or disability, filing your own SSDI claim can likely cause more problems than it is worth.
The best way to ensure you get the Social Security benefits you deserve is to file your SSDI claim with an attorney like those at Casa de la Justicia. Not only will working with an attorney help ensure that your paperwork is correct, but they will guide you through the entire SSDI claim process – including time consuming appeals.
If you have questions about filing an SSDI claim, we put together this brief article to help you better understand what it looks like to work with an attorney in the process.
What is an SSDI Claim?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has multiple benefits programs for people who are disabled to the point of not being able to work and earn a living. The most common programs from the SSA include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
- SSI Claims: provide financial assistance to people that are unable to earn a livable wage due to age or disability. SSI benefits are quite basic and unrelated to one’s work history.
- SSDI Claims: offer benefits to those people with qualified work histories that can no longer perform their jobs due to injury or disability. SSDI claims pay much more than SSI benefits, but can also be much more difficult to prove.
Did you get injured on the job and can longer work? Are you unsure if you qualify for SSDI benefits? Give Casa de la Justicia a call at 1-800-840-8080 for a free consultation.
Do I Need an Attorney to File for Disability?
While you aren’t legally required to use an attorney to get SSDI benefits, using one greatly increases your chances of getting maximum benefits.
Filing a claim for SSDI payments is a complex and intimidating process. Not only must the application be filled out correctly, but it must be turned in according to a strict time frame. Keeping tabs on all these steps can be challenging for just about anyone.
It’s also worth noting that about 2/3s of SSDI claims are denied in the first round of the application process. After that, you will likely require the expertise of an attorney to file for an appeal – even if you filed your original claim on your own.
Since the whole filing and appeal process can take up to a year, it’s simply not worth gambling your time and benefits without the aid of a skilled lawyer.
What Does a Disability Attorney Do?
Skilled attorneys will handle the SSDI claims process every step of the way. You can count on your lawyer to address the following steps:
- Applications: your attorney will handle all the requisite paperwork for your SSDI application, making sure that there are no errors or mistakes. Your legal team will also gather any necessary medical records needed to back your claim.
- Meetings: if you opt to work with an attorney, they will accompany you to any required meetings you might have with SSA officials. At times, your lawyer can even attend such events in your place if needs be.
- Appeals: legal teams are particularly important for SSDI claims when it comes time to appeal. Whether it be preparing you to testify at an SSDI hearing or questioning witnesses, lawyers greatly increase your chances of winning an appeal.
How Much Does a Disability Attorney Cost?
Most disability attorneys, the team at Casa de la Justicia works on a contingency basis. As such, we only get paid from your SSDI claim in the event that your application is accepted. Importantly, to make sure you get a fair deal, the SSA must approve any fee agreement you make with a legal team concerning your SSDI payments.
Generally speaking, if you are awarded benefits, the SSA will pay your attorney directly out of your “SSDI back pay.” The Disability Benefits Help website defines SSDI back pay as “the benefits that you would have received from the time when you apply for benefits to when your claim is approved, minus a 5 month waiting period. SSDI retroactive back pay can also include compensation for when you were diagnosed with your disability to when you were approved for SSDI.”
Lawyer fees for SSDI claims are limited by federal law to 25% of back pay or $6,000, whichever amount is less.
Contact Casa de la Justicia Today!
At Casa de la Justicia, we will help you through the entire SSDI claim process without you ever having to pay a penny out of your pocket. Even better, the claim process is 100% confidential and will be handled by attorneys that speak both English and Spanish.
Contact Casa de la Justicia or call 1-800-840-4040 for a free consultation.
