Q: Will your disability claim be reviewed more quickly if it is represented by a social security attorney?
A: Your case will not necessarily move through the review process any quicker with a lawyer than it would without one. But the likelihood that your claim will be awarded benefits can increase if it is represented by a social security attorney. Some cases are approved after the initial review process. But most claimants will be denied benefits after the initial review process and will then wish to move onto the next step in the process. Appealing for reconsideration is the next course of action. Most cases are denied again after being reconsidered and will then move on to be heard before an administrative judge. A social security attorney will be a tremendous asset during a hearing. The knowledge and expertise provided by an attorney who deals with disability cases regularly will assure that your case will be adjudicated fairly and properly. You do not need to be represented by a lawyer to go through the hearing phase. The majority of cases that win, however, have been represented by an attorney. A lawyer will make sure that your case is given the best chance it can to be awarded benefits, but he cannot necessarily speed up the process. The outcome that matters most is being approved for benefits, not how fast your case was reviewed.
Q: Do you have to have a social security attorney that lives in your town?
A: The lawyer you hire is not required to be local. Many attorneys handle cases all over their states and will drive to meet their clients. Your time would be better spent on locating a social security attorney that has the expertise and institutional knowledge you feel would best suit your needs, than on locating one who is geographically near you.
Q: If you are awarded disability benefits after a hearing, when do you actually see your first check?
A: Although you had to meet some required timelines when you filed various forms during the claims process, the SSA does not have any timelines for your payments to begin. That being said, the majority of people receive their first benefits check within 60 days after they were approved. Retroactive benefits may take a bit longer.