Social Security in the US has been in place since the term of President Roosevelt. The original program was set in motion to provide some measure of security for senior citizens. Over the years there have been numerous amendments including the establishment of Supplemental Security Income and disability benefits. Although applying for retirement benefits is straight forward, the same cannot be said when the individual is applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or SSI, for this, many people turn to a Social Security lawyer in Burlington for assistance.
You may not need a lawyer:
If your case is clear cut and you can prove beyond doubt that you have a physical or mental disability that is forecast to last at least a year, then you may not need the services of a lawyer. This unfortunately is not the norm; the greatest majority of applicants for disability benefits have their application rejected for one of what seems; a hundred different reasons.
When you should have a lawyer:
If your particular situation is not straight forward, hiring a seasoned Social Security lawyer in Burlington will be in your best interest. Some applicants wait to hire a lawyer until their initial application has been rejected, however, if you have the assistance of a knowledgeable lawyer in the first place you may not be rejected and you can avoid the appeals process. The sooner your claim for disability is lodged complete and clearly, the better your chances are of approval.
If your application is denied the first stage of appeal is to request that your initial application be reconsidered. Rarely does this result in approval, it is the second stage of appeal where the skills and experience of a seasoned Social Security lawyer in Burlington really help; a disability hearing in the presence of an administrative law judge.
A seasoned Social Security lawyer in Burlington is very helpful when you are making application for disability benefits and even more so if your initial application is denied. You are invited to discuss your case with the Law office of Elizabeth A Patterson. Follow us on twitter.