How Will a Social Security Lawyer Learn About Your Case?
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by: albert.tobega
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Q: If you hire a social security lawyer to handle your disability case, what will they do first?
A: The first order of business for any social security lawyer is familiarizing himself with your medical records and all the details in your file. Analyzing and understanding your claim is essential for the lawyer representing you. If your claim is past the initial review phase, updated medical records are a vital tool for your social security lawyer. After a claim has been through the reconsideration phase, updated medical records will not be requested by Social Security. Consequently, your medical information may be severely outdated when you finally get to your hearing date. To be considered for continuing disability benefits, a case undergoing a hearing will need to have the most recent medical data and your attorney will make sure that happens. Less than 60 days old is what most attorneys advise regarding your medical records.
Q: If you are looking for a social security lawyer, what types of things should you be aware of?
A: It is a good idea to have a list of things to ask social security lawyer candidates before you hire one. If you a candidate you are considering is part of a bigger general practice, find out what portion of their case load is Social Security claims. Ideally, you would choose a lawyer that focuses on social security at least 1/3 of the time. This just assures that you hire someone who has his head in the Social Security game and knows the relevant issues well. You may also want to ask your candidate how many cases he has tried. The more cases a lawyer has tried in court, the more experienced and practiced he will be with your case. Knowing if the attorney has represented cases with similar health conditions to yours can be helpful too. Many attorneys recommend simply asking a potential social security lawyer about the challenges he sees in your case and how he can help. Finally, ask if he or someone else will be the one with you when your case goes before an administrative judge. One thing you should not be concerned about is how many cases an attorney has won or lost. You will not know anything about the cases, so will not be able to determine if they were difficult or easy cases. The number of cases won, consequently, will not be valuable to helping you determine if he should be your attorney.
Q: Are there asset limitations for SSI?
A: All assets and resources will be considered when you apply for SSI. If you have beyond two thousand dollars worth of countable assets, you will not qualify for SSI. If you own your house and it is your primary residence, it will not count against you. Likewise, the car you drive is not considered a countable asset. But any other houses or vehicles are considered assets. Your investment portfolios, checking accounts and policies with insurance companies are other examples of assets.
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