Knowing When To Hire A Disability Attorney
If you’re considering hiring a disability lawyer to assist you with your Social Security case, you should first understand the costs and benefits of having a lawyer on your side. The fees are straightforward: disability attorneys charge a fee set by federal law, which is usually equal to 25% of your disability backpay or $6,000. (Costs may rise if your case is heard by the Appeals Council or in federal court, but you should not pay more than $6,000.
) There is little or no money required upfront, and you are only charged a fee if you win your case. The advantages of hiring a disability lawyer are numerous and should be discussed in depth. It’s also important to consider when an attorney should be involved in the process.
The general rule is, “the sooner, the better.” If you’re even thinking about filing for disability, contact a disability attorney for a free consultation. Your lawyer can help you assess the strength of your case and prepare your initial application. While some people choose to go through this stage without legal counsel, having a lawyer on your side increases your chances of approval.
However, it’s important to remember that a lawyer’s efforts to expedite a case are often futile and that most claimants, including those represented by legal counsel, must wait many months, if it is not years, for their case to be resolved.
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