If you are considering applying for Social Security disability benefits you should also think about hiring a lawyer. Although having legal representation is often a must, there are those that do get their application approved upon the first presentation. If you are thinking about hiring a lawyer it is important that you know what to expect in the way of benefits as well as cost.
Determining the cost of hiring a Social Security lawyer in Gloucester is straight forward, the fee is actually set by federal law. The fee is 25 percent of the back pay you receive up to a maximum of $6,000. Although this is the standard fee, should your case go as far as the Appeals Council or even Federal Court the fee can go higher, but rarely does this happen.
There are many benefits to hiring a Social Security lawyer:
Of all the benefits associated with legal representation perhaps the most important is that your chances of getting approved for benefits are better. Of course there are cases where people apply and get approved on their own, but if you look at statistics you will see that applicants that are represented stand a better chance than those who go it alone.
Many complexities:
Like anything to do with a government agency, there are many complexities. Right from the initial application for benefits through the final stages of appeal, a Social Security lawyer in Gloucester knows what to expect and how to deal with it in such a way that it benefits their client.
Even deciding what your disability is can be difficult. Social Security has what is known as a “blue book.” This book is a complete listing of all disabling conditions that they will consider; it is quite convoluted and uses terms that are not necessarily well known to laypeople.
There is a very good chance your application will end up in the appeals process; this is really when having a seasoned lawyer is beneficial. The benefits of having a skilled lawyer in your corner far outweigh the cost.
If you are considering applying for disability benefits then you should consult with a seasoned Social Security lawyer in Gloucester. You are invited to call the Law Office of Elizabeth A Patterson for a free evaluation of your case. Follow us on google+ page.
