Looks like I have a representative for my Social Security disability claim

[Andrew206]

I’m poised to sign paperwork to hire a non-attorney representative to represent me in my upcoming Social Security disability hearing.

I’m wondering what it’s like to have a non-attorney representative work on a disability claim.

 

[VAW]

I’m poised to sign paperwork to hire a non-attorney representative to represent me in my upcoming Social Security disability hearing.

I’m wondering what it’s like to have a non-attorney representative work on a disability claim.

I am not sure if this is the same thing but my son was turned down for disability the first time, so we went to an SSI representative, she basically helped fill out the paper work and stuff but that was about all, she turned it all back in and it was denied again... Finally we got a lawyer who only did disability cases and it was passed. They get paid only if you win the case so there is no money out, and they take part of your back payment. Why don't you get a regular disability lawyer? I would recommend doing it that way because in the case of my son, all was a waste of time until the lawyer took it to court.

 

[Andrew206]

I am not sure if this is the same thing but my son was turned down for disability the first time, so we went to an SSI representative, she basically helped fill out the paper work and stuff but that was about all, she turned it all back in and it was denied again... Finally we got a lawyer who only did disability cases and it was passed. They get paid only if you win the case so there is no money out, and they take part of your back payment. Why don't you get a regular disability lawyer? I would recommend doing it that way because in the case of my son, all was a waste of time until the lawyer took it to court.

I haven’t been able to find a lawyer willing to take my case.

 

[Matthias]

I haven’t been able to find a lawyer willing to take my case.

I think that's usually became they work on a contingency basis (meaning they don't get paid unless you win) and they don't think you're going to win which would mean they might not get paid.

If you can't find a lawyer and the non-attorney representative will work on a contingency basis, it's probably better than nothing but I'd be cautious about giving them a bunch of money up front. If they were confident they could help you win, they shouldn't mind getting paid after they help you win.

 

[VAW]

I haven’t been able to find a lawyer willing to take my case.

Have you looked up the disability guidelines? and you fit into one of the categories? IT basically has to be a disability lawyer not just a lawyer. I know dealing with this with my son, I think you can't work for 3 months prior to applying. Of course my son couldn't... it is hard to get disability. All the doctor's told my son you need to get on disability, you have a disease there is no cure for (U.C.) and he had a severe case, plus his Asperger's but the first time he applied we hadn't had him diagnosed yet for Asperger's. All the doctors knew he had bad anxiety and Asperger's but without an official diagnosis they wouldn't even consider that. His doctors all wrote letters to the Disability board but they still denied his Disability stating that he can work certain jobs and he wasn't sick enough! They had him go to their doctors for exams which was a chiropractor.... who knew nothing about U.C. and even the chiropractor said I don't know why they sent you here. OF course his report stated that physically they couldn't find anything wrong with him since he could sit, stand, bend and things like that. Was insane! and with his Asperger's he wasn't able to really express himself and wouldn't let me in the courtroom. Even with the lawyer it was a very long journey! We started when he was 20 I think and he is now 31. He was denied, denied, then approved, then they took it back to court and he was denied again after being on disability for 8 months, then took it back to court again and it was approved. He has been on it for about a year now. He had all the doctors statement, he had been in and out of the hospitals, almost died from bleeding out, he had specialists for his UC which was out of control, migraines which he had to go to the ER for, Asperger's, from bleeding out he has heart problems because he didn't have enough blood in his body to pump to his vital organs. When he had the migraines which he had maybe 15 days out of the month and would throw up his heart would go out of rhythm so bad the doctor said if they don't get it back he could have a heart attack so he would spend a day or two in the hospital with them trying to get it back into rhythm. Plus from the U.C. he would have to spend at least 10 times-15 times in the bathroom which gave him no time to get there, it was immediate. I said which job can you have that you can spend half your work day in the bathroom? and like I said they said he wasn't sick enough. BUT somehow the disability lawyer was able to get him his disability. I don't really see any way to go but the disability lawyer. I have another friend in California, he had been trying and denied for about 4 years. He lives in Florida now so it was 5 years and they finally approved him. I wish you luck and don't get discouraged because even if and when they deny you, just try again, eventually it will probably go through.

 

[Andrew206]

Have you looked up the disability guidelines? and you fit into one of the categories? IT basically has to be a disability lawyer not just a lawyer. I know dealing with this with my son, I think you can't work for 3 months prior to applying. Of course my son couldn't... it is hard to get disability. All the doctor's told my son you need to get on disability, you have a disease there is no cure for (U.C.) and he had a severe case, plus his Asperger's but the first time he applied we hadn't had him diagnosed yet for Asperger's. All the doctors knew he had bad anxiety and Asperger's but without an official diagnosis they wouldn't even consider that. His doctors all wrote letters to the Disability board but they still denied his Disability stating that he can work certain jobs and he wasn't sick enough! They had him go to their doctors for exams which was a chiropractor.... who knew nothing about U.C. and even the chiropractor said I don't know why they sent you here. OF course his report stated that physically they couldn't find anything wrong with him since he could sit, stand, bend and things like that. Was insane! and with his Asperger's he wasn't able to really express himself and wouldn't let me in the courtroom. Even with the lawyer it was a very long journey! We started when he was 20 I think and he is now 31. He was denied, denied, then approved, then they took it back to court and he was denied again after being on disability for 8 months, then took it back to court again and it was approved. He has been on it for about a year now. He had all the doctors statement, he had been in and out of the hospitals, almost died from bleeding out, he had specialists for his UC which was out of control, migraines which he had to go to the ER for, Asperger's, from bleeding out he has heart problems because he didn't have enough blood in his body to pump to his vital organs. When he had the migraines which he had maybe 15 days out of the month and would throw up his heart would go out of rhythm so bad the doctor said if they don't get it back he could have a heart attack so he would spend a day or two in the hospital with them trying to get it back into rhythm. Plus from the U.C. he would have to spend at least 10 times-15 times in the bathroom which gave him no time to get there, it was immediate. I said which job can you have that you can spend half your work day in the bathroom? and like I said they said he wasn't sick enough. BUT somehow the disability lawyer was able to get him his disability. I don't really see any way to go but the disability lawyer. I have another friend in California, he had been trying and denied for about 4 years. He lives in Florida now so it was 5 years and they finally approved him. I wish you luck and don't get discouraged because even if and when they deny you, just try again, eventually it will probably go through.

I’ve looked up the disability guidelines and my disorder (pervasive developmental disorder) is an autism spectrum disorder which is listed. Looks like the hearing is my best chance.

 

[elbowgrease]

I had a case manager help with my SSI. Other than making some calls and setting up appointments, though, I'm not sure what they actually did. It seems like a lot of the process of getting approved for SSI was a matter of jumping through the right hoops at the right time. It took about 1 1/2 years after my diagnosis, one denial (which is standard procedure, apparently), letters from my case manager and from a therapist I was seeing. There may have been other actions taken on my behalf behind the scenes that I'm not aware of. Here in California there are regional centers that work with/for people with developmental disorders, they helped smooth that process out. There may be something similar near you.