1 An experience attorney knows about your specific physical or mental impairment. Our office has handled cases involving impairments from spinal injuries to heart disease; from mental retardation to bipolar disorder. Call us to discuss your specific case.
2. An experienced attorney knows about the rules, regulations and procedures for litigating your claim. While you can be represented by just about anyone or even represent yourself, I do not recommend it. The Social Security Administration is a large, unfeeling bureaucracy. While most of the people working for SSA are very caring, they are also swamped, under funded and underpaid for the work they perform. Your case may be one of the many that have fallen through our society's safety net. You may not know the difference between a POMS and HALLEX, yet the Social Security Administraion can and will use these rules and regulations to deny your disability or SSI claim. Sound like an even playing field to you?
3. Pursuing your claim should not cost you a dime until it is resolved. The Social Security Administration must approve your representative's fee. Do not pay anyone upfront to handle your disability or SSI case. You're probably under enough financial stress as it is. Our typical attorney fee contingency arrangement is 25% of the past due benefits. Even if you don't hire me, make sure you hire someone who will handle your case on a contingency fee basis, preferably an attorney who is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives. Membership in this organization can be evidence that your potential attorney takes your social security disability or SSI case seriously. Yes, I'm a member.
4. Your attorney works for you. Demand that you meet with the attorney you hire. Sounds strange, but there are national disability operations that will market to you and send your case off to an attorney or paralegal for processing. You may not hear from them again until your hearing. The person who you first spoke to may not be the person who represents you at the hearing. They may do a good job; you may win. But you may lose and be, understandably, frustrated. Make sure the person you hire will pick up the phone and answer your questions; make sure your representative will stand there with you at the hearing before the judge and on appeal, even if your case has merit and you are forced to appeal to federal court.
Seattle/Puget Sound Phone/Fax: 206-622-5679 San Francisco/Bay Area Phone/Fax: 510-568-3077
