Understanding The Legal Process

Hiring An Attorney For Your Social Security Disability Claim? How To Prepare For Your First Appointment

by Eli Gregory

If you're going to be applying for social security disability benefits, it's best to start off with an attorney. Many people wait until they've been denied benefits to hire an attorney. However, waiting to hire an attorney until after you've been denied can make the process even longer. You can avoid some of the delays and difficulties by hiring an attorney to work with you throughout the process. Here are four steps that will help you prepare for your initial consultation with the disability benefits attorney.

Gather Your Medical Records

As soon as you've scheduled the appointment with your attorney, you need to start gathering your medical records. Your attorney will need to see everything you have from your doctors, as well as records from labs and other healthcare providers that you've seen for your disability. For instance, if you've been receiving physical therapy for your disability, you'll need to have copies of those records, as well. Also, if you've been seeing a counselor for help with your disability, you should request copies of those records too.

Prepare Written Documentation

Your attorney will need to see your medical records, but they'll also need to hear from you about the disability; specifically, how to disability affects your daily life. To make sure you're able to provide your attorney with all the information they'll need to help you apply for disability benefits, it's a good idea to write everything down. That way, your attorney will have all the details regarding your disability and how it affects you.

Have Your List of Questions Prepared

Now that you're applying for social security disability, you're going to have a lot of questions for your attorney. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to forget those questions as soon as you sit down for your interview. You can make sure you get all your questions asked and answered, by writing them down in advance. Writing your questions down in a journal will ensure that you don't forget any of them. It will also provide you a space to write down the answers you receive.

Be Ready for the Long-Haul

Applying for social security disability benefits isn't a quick process. It can take months and even years to begin receiving benefits once you apply. Hiring an attorney can help speed up the process, but you should still be prepared for the long haul. The best way to ensure a speedier process is to provide your attorney with all the documentation they need promptly.

Share