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What Questions Should You Ask a Social Security Lawyer Before You Hire Him?

Q: What is the first thing that will happen after you obtain representation from a social security lawyer?

A: The first thing a social security lawyer will do is familiarize himself with everything in your file, as well as your current medical information. Your attorney will want to thoroughly understand your case. If your claim is past the initial review phase, updated medical records are a vital tool for your social security lawyer. After a claim has been through the reconsideration phase, updated medical records will not be requested by Social Security. Consequently, your medical information may be severely outdated when you finally get to your hearing date. To be considered for continuing disability benefits, a case undergoing a hearing will need to have the most recent medical data and your attorney will make sure that happens. It is recommended that your medical data be no older than 2 months.

Q: How do you determine which social security lawyer to hire?

A: It is a good idea to have a list of things to ask social security lawyer candidates before you hire one. For a lawyer that is part of a law firm that deals with various types of issues, you may wish to ask what percentage of their cases pertain to Social Security issues. The experts recommend that your attorney should spend more than a third of his caseload on social security issues. You want your lawyer to be skilled at these types of cases and percentage of caseload is a good indicator of how frequently he has to dive into Social Security topics. You may also want to ask your candidate how many cases he has tried. Generally, a newbie will not be nearly as polished as an attorney who has been in court 80 times. Knowing if the attorney has represented cases with similar health conditions to yours can be helpful too. Many attorneys recommend simply asking a potential social security lawyer about the challenges he sees in your case and how he can help. And, lastly, make sure the lawyer you interview is the one who will represent you in court. One thing you should not be concerned about is how many cases an attorney has won or lost. Social Security claims differ so much and you do not know if an attorney took on simple or more challenging cases. The ratio of wins to losses, therefore, will not help you know if he is the right lawyer for your case.

Q: Will Social Security look at all resources when determining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income?

A: Social Security will factor in all income and assets when determining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income. If you have beyond two thousand dollars worth of countable assets, you will not qualify for SSI. The home you live in is not a countable asset. Likewise, the car you drive is not considered a countable asset. But any other houses or vehicles are considered assets. Your investment portfolios, checking accounts and policies with insurance companies are other examples of assets.

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