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HOW AN ADVOCATE MAY HELP YOU WIN SOCIAL SECURITY DISABIITY

An advocate is a trained person that you appoint to represent you before the US Social Security Administration.  The advocate will be the only person besides yourself at the hearing who is totally dedicated to getting your disability benefits approved.

Here is how a professional advocate or representative can help you:

Screen your application to be sure it is complete, accurate and compelling.  We find that many disability applications are denied on some technical point or simply because of an error in the application forms.

Gather appropriate evidence.  The law requires your claim be supported by "objective medical evidence" from an approved medical source. The number one reason for denial of benefits is failure to meet this burden of proof.  Your advocate can help obtain, evaluate and submit the required evidence to support your claim.  Without it, you're going nowhere.

Develop a legal theory of your case that can be approved.  Winning a Social Security disability case is technical and must have the weight of legal persuasion behind it.  A winning legal theory simply means that somebody points out chapter and verse of the rules, regulations or laws that support your claim.  This may involve Listings, Medical-Vocational Guidelines, Social Security Rulings, federal court decisions or any number of complicated rules and regulations.

 Represent you at your hearing.  Hearings are presided over by US administrative law judges, professionals trained in federal administrative law.  You may also face a medical expert (doctor) and/or a vocational expert.  Be sure you have your own expert sitting at your left elbow during this hearing. This will only happen if you appoint a representative to go to the hearing with you.

 Recover maximum retroactive or "back pay" benefits.  Social Security must pay you from the established onset date of your disabling impairment, subject to certain rules and regulations. Your representative will work to be sure you recover as much money as you are entitled to get.  One simple change in your "established onset" can mean the difference between no back pay and getting tens of thousands of dollars in back pay settlement.  Let your advocate take the steps required to recover all your back pay.

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