Did you know that our attorneys are active members of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR)?
Attorney Steve Troutman has attended every organizational conference since he began practicing law, while attorney Gayle Troutman has taught several classes relating to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) at NOSSCR events.
We bring this up because recently the organization put out an excellent release about items you should consider when finding assistance during the SSDI application and appeals process, in addition to the Social Security Income (SSI) process. There are four items people should consider when looking for an attorney or representative:
- Experience and practice areas: It makes sense to ask a potential representative what experience he or she has with the type of problem you are having.
- Should you hire a representative? Many people applying for retirement or disability benefits have complicated problems and want more personalized advice about their specific situations.
- Is the representative a lawyer? Some professional representatives are lawyers and some are not. Non-lawyers can handle most Social Security issues, but they cannot represent clients in federal court.
- How is the representative/lawyer paid? Social Security claimants’ representatives generally work on a “contingency fee” basis. This means that the client does not pay when the representative is hired, but only if the client wins benefits.
The information about payment, as well as lawyers and representatives, is incredibly important. In our own experiences, we have witnessed people who have attempted to work with representatives rather than attorneys running into hurdles during the process, as the representatives are not able to handle the complex nature of some claims.
Our attorneys have a full understanding of Social Security law, which can be incredibly complex. We also have vast experience handling cases at hearings before Social Security Administrative Law Judges (ALJs).
How Do I Apply for SSDI Benefits?
For more information about the SSDI application and appeals process, you can visit our Social Security FAQ page. Our firm is dedicated to helping people who are disabled and cannot work obtain benefits. Social Security law is all we do.
Source – https://nosscr.org/
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