Hiring a Disability Attorney Atlanta

by Steev Cooper Article

If anyone’s income is low, a lawyer may be available to assist or represent him or herself through a "legal services" organization that has specialists in Social Security appeals. These are nonprofit organizations that seek funding from outside sources in order to serve low-income people. Legal services offices provide advice and representation for little or no money. The first place to look for legal services offices is on the list of references provided by Social Security along with its notice denying the claim. The clients can also find legal services offices—sometimes listed as Legal Aid—online or in the white pages of the telephone directory. Beware, however, that in the steady campaign by the federal government over the past 20 years to slash public services for low-income people, many legal services offices have suffered staff cutbacks or have been eliminated altogether. So it may not be easy to find a legal lawyer who can help the client with the appeal. Client may also find a Disability Attorney Atlanta in private practice.

Be aware, though, that most private lawyers know very little about Social Security; one need to find one who specializes in Social Security claims. The Social Security referral list will either give the client the names of local attorneys who specialize in Social Security appeals or give client the name of an organization that gives referrals to such private attorneys. For directories of lawyers who specialize in Social Security log on to any of the search engine and websites on the internet.

The client’s local county bar association will also have a reference list of lawyers who specialize in Social Security appeals. And while, in general, these bar association referral lists do not always include the best lawyers, in Social Security appeal matters they usually do have the best people. That is because very few lawyers specialize in Social Security appeals, and the few who are expert in the field usually list themselves with the bar association. Normally, lawyers cost a lot of money. However, Social Security rules strictly limit the amount of money a lawyer or anyone else can charge tor a Social Security appeal, which may explain why so few lawyers specialize in the field. Whether one’s representative is a Disability Attorney Atlanta or other specialist, Social Security rules limit the fees the representative may charge. And not only are fees limited, but they must be approved by Social Security in each individual case. Many lawyers and some nonlawyers charge a fee only if, with their help, client win his or her appeal. If client win his or her appeal at any stage of the process, he or she will be entitled to benefits from the date the client first applied for them—referred to as past-due benefits.

The Author is a professional writer, presently writing for Atlanta Social Security Disability Attorney

Atlanta Social Security Disability Attorney