You’re disabled. More than likely, you aren’t working at all. If you are working, the few dollars you bring in each day are definitely not going to stretch very far.
So, how are you expected to hire an attorney if your Social Security Disability (SSD) claim is denied?
The right to seek experienced legal assistance for your disability claim is important. Without it, you have to try to work through an intricate maze of paperwork and regulations all on your own. Appearing in front of an administrative law judge to plead your case can be a disaster, especially once you realize that you don’t know how to counter the assertions from the agency’s vocational expert (who says you can work). Just the same, you’re concerned about how you can afford an attorney’s services.
Are you stuck in an impossible situation? Fortunately, no. Social Security Disability attorneys work on a contingency fee, which means that they only get compensated if you win your case. In addition, the compensation that they’re eligible to receive is capped by law to a maximum of $6,000 or 25% of your past-due benefits at the time of your award, whichever is less. Fees also have to be approved by the government before they are paid, to further protect applicants.
Getting help for your SSD claim isn’t impossible — or financially out of your reach — just because your income is limited. If your claim for benefits has been denied, talk to an experienced attorney. They can help you identify any weaknesses in your case and form a strategy to overcome them.