What Does A Social Security Attorney Do?

by | Dec 30, 2014 | Attorney

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Social Security is a US federal government program that provides benefits for two classes of people; one group are those that have reached retirement age while the other group are those that suffer from some type of a physical or mental disability. The first group, individuals who have retired, rarely have any problems obtaining these benefits. However, the same cannot be said for those who have a disability. A Social Security attorney in Belleville is a legal professional who has in-depth knowledge of all the rules and regulations which are in place when an application for disability benefits is being processed. This attorney is the individual that people turn to for advice and assistance, however, in many cases the attorney is not hired until the initial application has been made and rejected.

Anyone who feels they have a genuine physical or mental disability is free to claim benefits from the Social Security administration but receiving them is rarely as simple as applying. Before benefits are granted the applicant must prove categorically to the SSA that they are indeed disabled to the point where they can no longer work and provide themselves and their families with any income. The process that the SSA inspectors go through with every application is very detailed; the applicants work history as well as all the supporting medical documentation is studied in depth before the application is granted, or in most cases, denied. It is because of the volumes of supporting information that must accompany the claim that many people elect to hire a Social Security attorney in Belleville at the very start of the process. The attorney, based on having made many applications for many clients is in a position to know what the SSA are looking for and what documents are needed to support the claim and the best way to present the documents.

Although it is thought best that the applicant hire an attorney right at the beginning of the process many people wait until their application is denied, and the greatest majority of them are even though the applicant is sure his or her disability qualifies them for benefits. When the application is denied the attorney will file a motion for review by an administrative judge. The judge is not the same individual that denied the application. The attorney will present the client’s case to the judge, arguing that there is sufficient proof of a disability existing and the application warrants approval. Often in these appearances before the administrative judge the Social Security attorney in Belleville will bring forth expert witnesses that can offer testimony that supports the physical and mental abilities that the applicant’s job demands and how the disability makes it impossible to do the work.

In most cases approval is granted at this stage but if approval is still withheld the Social Security attorney in Belleville can still avail of other legal tactics including taking the case all the way to US District Court if necessary.

If you have applied for disability benefits only to have your application denied then you must consider hiring a seasoned Social Security attorney in Belleville.

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