Does It Take Longer to Get SSI or SSDI with an Attorney?

If you have a severe disability and cannot work, such as cancer, there is a fast track through the SSI and SSDI application process. However, for most people, there is no fast track, even with a lawyer. While having an experienced disability lawyer on your side is beneficial, and may shorten the approval time, they cannot make each step of the process go faster.

How Hiring a Lawyer Helps

Your initial application may have better chances approval if you send in all the required medical records and fill out the application completely. Some records will be needed from your doctors and an SSDI or SSI lawyer can help speed up the process of obtaining and sending in those medical records. A lawyer can help you gather this information and can submit it properly.

If your application isn’t approved, you may be asked to attend a hearing. Your lawyer can help prepare you for this, as going before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) can be stressful if you don’t know what to expect.

The fewer steps you need to take before having your SSDI or SSI approved, the quicker you will receive benefits. A Social Security lawyer who has practiced in the same locale for a while will know the judges. Submitting requested information to these judges in a way they prefer can help them reach a decision sooner.

What Can’t be Helped

One of the biggest reasons getting an approval for disability benefits takes so long is because nearly every Social Security office in the country is backlogged on both applications and hearing requests. Having a lawyer on your side won’t give you quicker appointments or hearings, and it won’t help the wait times you will experience for an initial decision or a decision after an appeal.

A Social Security Disability lawyer that has experience not only with the SSDI or SSI procedures you have to follow, but with the places and people you will encounter, can help you get through the disability claims process. Kenton Koszdin has that vital experience as a Social Security Disability lawyer who can help you receive the award letter you need.