When to Talk to a Social Security Disability Lawyer

The general rule is "the earlier, the better." If you're even considering filing for disability, you should call a disability attorney for a free consultation. Your attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your case and assist you with your initial application.

The most important reason to hire an attorney to help with your disability case is that your chances of being approved are significantly increased. While it's certainly true that some people who apply on their own are approved for benefits, statistics show that Social Security is more likely to approve an applicant who's represented by legal counsel than one who isn't.

From the initial application to the hearing level and beyond, disability attorneys understand how to present a case in the light most favorable to their clients. At the reconsideration and hearing levels (the first and second level of appeal in most states), your lawyer can collect and submit relevant medical evidence, obtain an opinion from your doctor, draft a detailed brief to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), and prepare you for the judge's questions at the hearing. Your attorney will also elicit helpful testimony from you at the hearing and may cross-examine the Vocational Expert or Medical Expert to demonstrate that you're unable to work.

At the next stages of appeal, the Appeals Council and federal court, your lawyer can craft sophisticated legal arguments to show that Social Security wrongly denied your case.

Our Pennsylvania Social Security appeal attorneys have been through the Social Security appeal process numerous times, we can guide you through this process and help get you the benefits you deserve.

If you or a loved one is filing for SSDI, or has filed and been denied, call the Pisanchyn Law Firm for a free consultation at 1-800-444-5309 or visit PisanchynLawFirm.com.