Do All Claimants Have to Have Social Security Attorneys?

Q: Do all people who apply for disability insurance hire social security attorneys?

A: No, not all people who apply for disability insurance hire social security attorneys. Social Security does not require that you have an attorney. In fact, it is common for claimants to submit their initial applications without the assistance of social security attorneys. The most common time for claimants to hire attorneys is after they have received notification that their initial applications were denied. The next appropriate step in the process is to file for reconsideration. Most claimants are denied again after having their claims reconsidered and will then move on to the next step, requesting a hearing. Because of that, social security attorneys are most commonly hired after claimants are notified that their initial applications were denied. Even at the hearing level, there is no requirement that cases have legal representation. And there are some claimants who are awarded benefits after a hearing and do not have attorneys. That being said, most who are awarded benefits at that stage of the process have legal advocates. Social security attorneys specialize in dealing with the disability review process. Years of experience has given them a foundation of knowledge about what is needed to fairly make a judgment on a claim. Most claimants do not have that foundation or expertise. Although there is no requirement that you hire an attorney, having advocates like social security attorneys at your side will assure that your claim is given the best chance possible at being awarded benefits.

Q: What happens during reconsideration?

A: When a disability claim is reconsidered, it is simply reviewed again. The review is like the review that happens when you submit your initial application. The difference is that a new examiner will be assigned to review the case. The reconsideration examiner only reviews claims at this level.