What Should I Ask My Disability Attorney?
When looking for a disability attorney, you are in need of someone who will look out for you. Not someone who wants your case to collect the fee, but a disability lawyer who will champion your case and give you the best chance at disability benefits. To assist you in doing your due diligence to make sure that a lawyer is qualified to handle your case, the disability lawyers at RGG Law have compiled a list of questions that you should ask.
Do I Have a Substantial Claim?
In your initial consultation, your lawyer should give a full assessment of your case. In some cases, an attorney will see clearly that you don’t have a solid case and most likely will not be awarded benefits but will neglect to tell you so that they can collect a fee. Asking directly about the validity of your claim gives them a sense of responsibility and accountability in moving forward, and gives the opportunity for you to walk away before racking up lawyer fees if the likelihood of being eligible is low.
Do You Have Specialized Training in Disability Law?
Disability law is a highly specialized field, and a general practitioner attorney will not be as knowledgeable or familiar with the ins and outs of the SSA when handling your case as a disability attorney would. Most legitimate disability lawyers are members of NOSSCR (the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives), which provides continuing education and training to stay current on disability law throughout the years.
What are Your Success Rates in Handling a Social Security Disability Appeal?
It’s important to know your disability attorney’s credentials, from their educational background, license to practice law, and experience. When asking about experience, it’s important to get a good idea of success rates, especially if you’re hoping that they will handle your Social Security disability appeal and overturn your rejection. Specific percentages of SSA rejections overturned could give you a real idea of the success rate of your disability attorney.
Will You Be Handling My Case?
It’s not uncommon for a lawyer to pass off their work to another staff member. All of your questioning about your disability lawyer’s qualification and competence are irrelevant if they are passing off the brunt of your case work to a member of their staff who doesn’t meet all of those qualifications.
What Do I Need to Do?
Get a clear idea of what your disability attorney needs from you. Whether they are building your case from the ground up or taking over for your Social Security disability appeal, there could very well be information or documents that are needed in order to best represent your case. Asking directly, and making a list, will ensure that you’re providing all of the tools and information that your disability attorney can’t access without you.
What is Your Fee?
You’re in a vulnerable position. It’s crucial that you have a solid understanding of the financial agreement that you’re making before you commit to a disability lawyer. Disability lawyers work on a contingency fee; if you win, the usual agreement is that their fee is a certain percentage of your back pay benefits (i.e. 25 percent with a cap of $6,000). Some disability attorneys will tack on additional costs, so it is important to be informed of all fees upfront.
Looking for a Disability Attorney in Springfield, MO?
Choose RGG Law. We specialize in disability law. We are members of NOSSCR; we are knowledgeable and experienced. Give yourself the best chance; make sure that a qualified disability attorney is handling your claim. Call RGG Law and schedule your free consultation with one of our disability lawyers. We work on a contingency basis, so we only get paid if you do. We’ll give you an honest assessment of your case and guide you through this process toward the benefits that you deserve.