When it comes to disability, the federal government requires many procedures for filing claims in order for you to get the benefits you deserve. It is an experience that can be physically and emotionally draining. The legal support of your disability attorney can be very beneficial during this difficult time in your life.
The attorney is responsible for assisting you with the claims process so that your life can return to normal as much as possible. Although disability attorneys handle cases in different ways, there are many similarities in the approaches they use to develop and manage cases in preparation for the hearing. Here are some of the main things to expect from your attorney.
Detailed interview
When you contact the attorney to represent you, the next thing they will do is schedule an initial interview with you. The lawyer can come to you and the main objective of the interview is to obtain all the basic information about the case. The facts are what will be used to develop a case using an approach that has higher success rates in your favor. The interview can be by phone or physical meeting. If the case has a better chance of winning, the attorney will be more than willing to represent you.
Develop medical evidence
Once you entrust your case to the attorney, they will be asked to sign a medical privacy statement, allowing them access to your medical records. After reviewing the medical records, the attorney will determine if any additional tests are necessary to increase the chances of winning the claim. Social Security dictates the disability exams that must be taken, and the attorney may request it to schedule a consultative exam with one of their physicians, or they may be allowed to take the test privately. The physicians involved will offer supporting statements about functional limitations, if any, and the attorney will decide what to do with any bad evidence that may end up harming the case and will also decide which medical records are most relevant to present.
Get ready to listen
Once all the documents are ready and the hearing date is close, your attorney will begin preparing you for the claim hearing. Pre-hearing communication is really important because it gives you an idea of how the case will take place and it also teaches you how to answer the questions that may be asked. The attorney will discuss common questions with you. Some of the questions can be embarrassing and if you are unsure of their relevance, you can always ask the attorney to clarify why you should answer that question and how it helps the case.
Organize witnesses
Witnesses authorized to testify at a hearing can help or hurt the case. Therefore, your disability attorney will be responsible for deciding what testimonies are necessary to win the case and whether there are witnesses in the case. Caregivers and former employers are potential witnesses.
