How Long Does It Take To Get Disability with a Lawyer?

Discovering how long it takes to receive disability benefits with a lawyer requires understanding the complexity of the Social Security Disability (SSD) claims process.

A medical condition that impedes one's capacity to earn a living can throw life out of balance. The double whammy of illness and financial anxiety about one's ability to cover one's bills and provide for one's family can be daunting. Social Security Disability benefits are designed to support those grappling with a permanent or temporary disability, barring them from gainful work. However, according to statistical data, approximately 70% of initial SSD claims are turned down.

An experienced SSD lawyer can significantly increase your chances of a successful claim or guide you through the appeal process if your initial application is rejected. This article provides an overview of the SSD claims process and answers the question: how long does it take to receive Social Security disability benefits with a lawyer?

An SSD claim is a plea for financial help due to continuous disability submitted to the Social Security Administration (SSA). You may be eligible to file an SSD claim if you suffer from certain medical conditions or an impairment preventing you from working and earning an income. Depending on your unique circumstances, you can file for either Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. To have a successful claim, you must provide credible medical evidence and substantial documentation confirming your disabling condition.

Four main factors are evaluated while determining the eligibility of an SSD claim:

Though SSD claims can be tedious to submit due to their complexity and the time required for documentation, a seasoned SSD attorney can act as your advocate throughout the process and ensure all the necessary paperwork is submitted.

Providing detailed and accurate documents can significantly enhance your chances of a successful SSD claim. You should assemble the following for your SSD claim:

In particular circumstances, providing a power of attorney could also be instrumental in your social security disability claim. If, for any reason, you are unable to manage your affairs during the claim process, a power of attorney can ensure your legal representation can act in your best interest to navigate through the proceedings efficiently.

According to the SSA, the average processing time to decide on your SSD claim can take 3 to 5 months. However, many SSD cases lodged with the SSA are initially denied, and they must undergo a time-consuming appeal process.

Recent surveys show that hiring an experienced SSD lawyer could increase your chances of a successful claim. It was found that claimants with legal aid had a 60% approval rate, while those without legal support had a 34% approval rate.

The disability benefits process comprises several stages, from the onset of your disability to the application and appeal stages.

For SSD benefits, you are considered disabled on the day you become unable to perform your job responsibilities because of your physical or mental condition. However, more than being able to continue your past employment is required for an SSD claim. Instead, you must prove that your disability prevents you from performing any reasonable level of work for at least a year.

Your doctor's diagnosis and medical records are pivotal in a successful SSD claim. Hence, getting an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible after the onset of your medical condition is essential. The doctor should properly diagnose you and perform any tests that could serve as evidence in your disability claim.

During the consultation, thoroughly explain how your symptoms affect your ability to work and insist on a copy of all reports describing your diagnosis and how your medical condition impacts your work.

After confirming your eligibility for disability benefits and preparing all necessary documents, you can apply for SSD benefits online or at a Social Security Administration Office. The application process requires answering questions about your education level, work history, medications, medical condition, and any treatment.

The application process can be overwhelming, and unfortunately, incomplete responses can result in an immediate rejection of your application. An attorney can aid you with the application, ensuring the documentation is accurate and your answers are filled out thoroughly.

An SSD lawyer, an expert in disability law, knows the paperwork and processes required for a successful SSD claim. Lawyers have an intricate understanding of the SSA system and can assist in filling out the initial application or navigating the appeal process if your initial claim is rejected. They may also help you apply for other benefits, such as workers' compensation or private employer disability insurance.

Applicants often feel confident using on their own, only bringing in a lawyer when their claim gets denied. However, hiring a lawyer from the onset can increase your chances for a successful claim and circumvent the delay and cost of an appeals process.

An SSD lawyer can assist with the initial application by explaining your employee rights, collecting the necessary medical documents, building a convincing narrative on why you deserve disability benefits, negotiating the official date of disability onset, and ensuring all paperwork is completed correctly and within the required timelines.

If your claim was rejected initially, you must request a hearing within 60 days of your initial application being denied.

A disability lawyer can prepare your appeal, lodge your hearing request, prepare you for potential questions from the judge, collect relevant medical evidence, build a compelling argument for why the initial claim denial was incorrect, choose appropriate witnesses for the hearing, and prepare the witnesses for questioning.

A recent survey revealed that more than half of the claimants who engaged an attorney for their disability hearing succeeded in their claim.

In comparison, only 23% of those who represented themselves received disability benefits.

An experienced disability lawyer can streamline your claim and get your approval faster. While hiring a lawyer from the beginning of the claims process can ensure all requirements and deadlines are met, consider the following factors as well to accelerate your approval process:

Remember, time is of the essence when dealing with SSD claims — your attorney's expertise, coupled with your attentive efforts to provide comprehensive and accurate documentation, can drastically speed up your approval process.

There is no exact time frame for the approval of your SSD claim. However, employing an attorney who can advocate for your rights and assist with your application can significantly reduce the processing time of your claim.

The SSA has devised a fast-track process for severe disabling conditions requiring urgent support. This accelerated process could approve applications within a matter of days.

The time it takes to get disability benefits with a lawyer depends on several factors. A disabling medical condition can drastically impact your ability to work, potentially leading to an urgent need for financial support. That said, a disability benefits claim can be complex and time-consuming.

Engaging an experienced lawyer can remove some of the burden of making a claim and permit you to focus on managing your health while your claim is being prepared and reviewed. Furthermore, legal representation can expedite the approval process, ensuring you receive your much-needed financial assistance promptly.