How to Find the Best Social Security Disability Lawyer in Your Area

Finding the best Social Security disability lawyer is the ideal way to work your benefit application through the Social Security disability process. On average, it takes 1 to 2 years for an application to run through the entire process, and be approved or denied for benefits. Often times, the process is extremely complicated and confusing to the claimant. Because most applications are not approved, a denied claim can create excessive stress and anxiety on you. It often comes when you are unable to make ends meet, or do not have the ability to receive the medical treatments you require.

Locating Lawyers

A simple blueprint for locating the best Social Security disability lawyers involves asking any potential attorney if they have experience in representing a claimant suffering from your medical condition. Additionally, you can seek the advice from experienced organizations involved with attorneys. They will help you locate lawyers experienced in applying for disability benefits to the Social Security Administration.

Rate of Success

Every case is personalized and unique to the claimant. When discussing your case with a Social Security disability lawyer, you need to ask if they have the knowledge in gathering all the pertinent medical records and evidence needed to handle the application or appeal. Finally, you need to understand their success rate in handling cases just like yours, and the outcome of every case. Although even the best and most knowledgeable Social Security disability lawyers cannot win every case, you need to understand the rate of their success in dealing with Social Security disability benefits.

Following this simple blueprint should direct you to highly qualified Social Security disability lawyers in your area. Scheduling a one-on-one consultation with a qualified Social Security disability lawyer will help ensure you are selecting the best attorney available for you and your case. Turning the responsibilities of your claim over to your Social Security disability lawyer will remove the tension and anxiety you experience by dealing with the process on your own.

Your Social Security Disability Attorney Might Ask Your Friends to Lend a Hand with Your Claim

Your Social Security disability attorney will most likely ask for assistance from your family and friends to lend a supporting hand in providing evidence for your case. The Social Security Administration uses a Function Report – Adult – Third Party form that gathers information from individuals other than you that have evidence on your disability. The SSA wants information regarding the activities you perform in your daily life, along with any other additional supportive information.

Gathering Supporting Information
 
Your Social Security disability attorney will ask that your family and friends provide all the necessary supporting information that needs to be entered as evidence at your formal hearing. Specific individuals in your life will most likely have validating information on your limitations in living with your condition.

If you live with a spouse or parents, your Social Security disability attorney will secure vital information from any of those individuals that might have useful testimony. Their swore evidence might include your ability to care for yourself, clean or cook in your home, or take your prescribed medication. This information is important because someone directly involved with you in your home usually witnesses the limitations of your abilities and performing your daily activities.

Recently, the Ninth Circuit Federal Court reprimanded an Administrative Law Judge in their failing when limiting testimony from the complainant’s friends and family members. The Administrative Law Judge had felt there was a bias due to a communal relationship between the parties.

Valuable Supportive Evidence

Like the Ninth Circuit federal court rebuke, your Social Security disability attorney understands that the testimony of family and friends serves as a key to the process in determining your benefits. Though this testimony might be biased for your gain or benefit, it still provides additional necessary evidence to prove your inability to work.
You need to discuss with your Social Security attorney how any of your potential witnesses or representatives might help support your claim.