When you’ve been injured or suffer a disabling medical condition that makes it impossible for you to work, you may need Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits to help you through a financially difficult time. Applying for disability can be complicated and frustrating—especially when you have inaccurate information. It’s important to recognize some common myths about SSD, so you don’t get tripped up by them when you need financial help the most.
Myth 1: It’s Too Expensive to Hire an SSD Attorney
You may worry about hiring an attorney for any legal issue because you believe it’s too expensive. However, legal representation for SSD benefits is not only affordable, but the amount an SSD attorney can be paid is also limited. Here’s how SSD attorneys are paid:
- The SSA has strict regulations limiting the legal fees for SSD claims. The agency caps legal fees at 25% or no more than $6,000 of any back pay you’re due.
- The SSA must approve requests for higher fees, and rarely does the agency approve these requests. If a case exceeds the $6,000 limit, it usually involves an appeal.
- The attorney submits a payment request directly to the SSA. Once it’s approved, the attorney’s fee is deducted from your back pay.
- If you’re not awarded any SSD benefits, you don’t pay your attorney.
Myth 2: The SSA Denies All Initial Applications
While it’s true that approximately 70% of initial applications for SSD are denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA), that doesn’t mean yours has to be one of them. Working with a skilled SSD attorney significantly improves your chances of an approved claim. An attorney can explain the critical medical information needed with your application and the mistakes many new applicants make, so your claim has a much better chance at the onset.
Myth 3: It Takes Years to Receive an Approval
If your disability is eligible for Compassionate Allowance, it will be approved much more quickly than one that’s listed in the Blue Book—the SSA’s listing of qualifying impairments. Additionally, having legal representation often expedites your claim because SSD attorneys understand the complex SSD laws and can ensure that your application has all the necessary information before you send it in.
Call Marcus Vaden Law
If you need financial support after suffering a disability that makes it impossible to work, contact Marcus Vaden Law. Having legal representation and an advocate on your side can provide invaluable assistance with your disability claim. We’ll examine your application to determine if there are any errors or omissions, and we can also assist in gathering the necessary medical evidence to give you a better chance of a successful claim.