While Social Security is supposed to be your safety net, the fact of the matter is most claimants who apply for benefits are denied. While you do have the right to appeal, the paperwork can be complicated and mistakes can cause your appeal to be denied as well. So what do you do when your claim has been denied? Let’s look at the steps you should take after your claim has been denied.
Qualifying for Social Security
Social Security is a form of disability insurance that will pay benefits if you meet their criteria. You need to have worked long enough to qualify and you need to be medically unable to work for at least a year or your condition is terminal. You can at any point seek legal representation to help you file your claim although the Social Security Administration will not disclose that information.
Get an Attorney as Soon as You Can
One of the biggest reasons that claims are denied is that you don’t have representation during the process. The presence of an attorney can help make sure that you have a favorable outcome in your case. A lawyer can help you process the paperwork properly and if your claim is denied they can help you through the appeal process. Here is a look at the appeal process.
Most applicants only ever seek legal advice once their claims have been denied. A disability attorney can help you with the reconsideration appeal process, but getting legal help initially would be in your best interest rather than waiting until your claim has been denied. According to statistics from the SSA almost 85% of cases need to be appealed. The cases that are victorious through the appeal process are usually won because the claimant sought out legal representation.
Hiring a Disability Attorney
Most disability attorneys work on a contingency basis rather than taking an upfront fee. That means when your claim is one and you receive the back payments owed to you then 25% of that money will go to your attorney. This is industry standard and it is far better than having your claim denied again. The attorney’s fees will be deducted before you get paid. This type of law is a specialty so you need an attorney who specializes in this type of law. Your future is on the line so don’t gamble it with just any attorney get someone who has done this type of case before.