How to Choose a Disability Attorney

It can be difficult to know which attorney to hire. Statistically speaking, disabled people are far more likely to be approved by Social Security if they have an attorney.

Things to consider:

1. Does this Attorney know Social Security Inside and Out?

Disability law is somewhat of a specialty. Lawyers that do not practice mostly Social Security law are unlikely to be very familiar with the complex Disability and SSI regulations. You wouldn't hire a heart doctor to treat your back, and the same goes for law. Look for attorneys that belong to professional groups like the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives or NOSSCR to determine which ones are really up to date on Social Security law.

2. Is this Lawyer Local?

You probably see commercials for lawyers on TV wearing cowboy hats and loudly declaring that "nobody intimidates our clients." Many of the lawyers you'll get by calling those numbers are from out of state. They do not know the judges, they do not know the experts, and they do not know the local practices. Often, they do not meet their clients before the hearing or ever work on the files themselves. Be very careful hiring one of these lawyers.

3. Can I Afford a Disability Attorney?

Almost all Disability lawyers charge the exact same fee. Our fees have to be approved by the Judge in order to be withheld and paid to us by Social Security. Your attorney will only get paid if you are awarded benefits. The fee is 25% of the back benefits (those Social Security should have paid you if they had found you disabled correctly back when you applied) up to a maximum of $6000. Except for your back benefits check, you will always get the full amount Social Security owes you going forward.