I have an appointment to see someone next week about taking on my disability case for me. What info do they need and what do I need to tell them?
The individual, agency, or firm that you choose to represent your disability claim should have access to all information that is pertinent to your ssd or ssi case.
However, there are a few bits of information that should be provided during the initial contact (whether that contact is online, over the phone, or in person) and these are as follows:
- Let the representative know at what level your claim was last denied. In other words, was the claim denied at the initial application level, the reconsideration level, or after a hearing before an administrative law judge was held?
Knowing the level at which a claim was last denied is crucial information for the disability representative, simply because it will determine the step that should be taken next, and, accordingly, what corresponding paperwork should be filed.
- Provide the representative with the date of the last denial. This is for the purpose of letting the representative determine whether an appeal may even be filed since time is a critical component in disability cases.
Though the social security administration allows a full 60 days for a claimant, or a claimant's representative, to file an appeal (plus an extra five days for mail time), a large number of claimants wait nearly that long before contacting a representative.
Unfortunately, a representative will not be able to file the necessary appeal paperwork (or even make an inquiry into a claimant's case status) until a prospective client has signed and returned an appointment of representative form, otherwise known as form ssa-1696.
After this basic information has been provided, the claimant, of course, should next provide copies of all medical records and social security notices that the claimant might have in his or her possession.
By providing as much case-related information as possible during the initial contact with a disability representative, a claimant can help ensure that their representation begins mistake-free.
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