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STAYING IN TOUCH WITH YOUR DISABILITY LAWYER OR REPRESENTATIVE

This information may help claimants with representation, as well as claimants who are not represented by an attorney or non attorney representative. Understanding how the Social Security Disability system works can make the difference between winning or not winning the continuing ssd or ssi disability benefits and backpay to which a person is entitled.

Stay in touch...but not too much in touch

Without a doubt, it is important that you stay in contact with the disability attorney or non attorney representative who is handling your ssd or ssi case, and for several reasons:
  1. If you receive a diagnosis of a new impairment, either physical or mental in nature, the representative needs to know since this may impact your claim.

  2. If your condition worsens significantly, this may affect the potential outcome of your claim---and if your case is pending the scheduling of a hearing before an administrative law judge, this may even allow your attorney or non attorney representative to request an on-the-record review on your behalf. (to learn what this is, go to the definitions section).

  3. If you move or change telephone numbers, you need to let your attorney or non attorney know. Without your contact information at their disposal, your representative may not be able to obtain signed authorizations from you (for the purpose of gathering medical records) or inform you of various matters related to your case.
Having said this, however, social security disability and ssi claimants who are represented should avoid calling their representatives too much. "Too much" is a term that may be open to definition, but, certainly, checking the status of your claim with your attorney or non attorney on a weekly basis would be too often. And, in fact, calling once a month, will, in most cases, be too much. And this is simply due to the fact that disability cases tend to move very slowly through the social security evaluation system.

For example, after a hearing before an administrative law judge has been requested, it may take (depending on where you live and how backed up your local hearing office is) anywhere from six months to twenty months to get a scheduled hearing date.

Due to realities such as this, there is little benefit to be gained from making routine status calls to a representatives (so long as you are sure that your representative has, in fact, filed the necessary appeal paperwork).

How often should you contact the agency, firm, or individual handling your social security disability or ssi disability case? A follow up every two months is probably right on target.



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APPLYING FOR SSD OR SSI BENEFITS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY OVERVIEW PT 2 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY QUESTIONS
MORE DISABILITY QUESTIONS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY HOW TO 'S SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY TIPS
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ARTICLES DISABILITY & MEDICAL CONDITIONS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY DEFINITIONS
DISABILITY EXAMINER ANSWERS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY OVERVIEW PT 1 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY MYTHS


SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ATTORNEY, REPRESENTATIVE LAWYER LIST

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