Table of Contents
Approximately 70% of claimants who apply for Social Security Disability benefits are denied at the initial application level. Overall, only 40% of disability claimants ever get approved, even after filing appeals. You don’t have to become one of the hundreds of thousands of disabled people who are turned down by the Social Security Administration every year. With decades of experience in SSDI claims, the disability lawyers at Martay Law Office can give you the edge you need to win.
For help with your initial SSD application, filing an appeal, or preparing for your ALJ hearing, call Martay Law Office at 312-372-9022. Consultations are free.
People who enlist the help of Social Security Disability lawyers double their chances of winning benefits. In fact, in a recent survey, about one-third of people interviewed hired an attorney or disability advocate during some point in the claims process. Of those who had legal representation, about 60% were ultimately approved. Only 34% of claimants who didn’t have legal representation were approved. A government report from 2017 reveals similar results. According to the report, disability claimants who hired lawyers were 2.9 times more likely to win benefits than those who tried to go it alone.
Few disability applications are approved at the initial application level, but with help from an attorney, your odds improve by up to 40%. Approximately 28% of disability applicants who hire attorneys are approved at the initial application stage, compared with only 20% of those who completed their applications without professional help. Why the improvement? SSDI lawyers are familiar with the language used by the SSA, the administration’s rules, and the medical evidence needed to support a claim.
Only about 52% of claimants whose applications are denied go on to request a hearing before a judge. Approximately 71% of those who do appeal at this stage hire a lawyer. Getting legal help at this stage is a good decision because it is at the ALJ hearing level that disability attorneys make the most difference in approval rates. In fact, having a disability lawyer on your side when you attend your hearing more than doubles your odds of achieving a successful outcome. About 50% of those surveyed who had legal representation at this level were approved for benefits. In comparison, only about 23% of claimants who represented themselves were approved.
Our lawyers make a difference in success rates for SSDI claims in a number of ways.
If you’re worried about the out-of-pocket cost to hire a disability attorney, don’t be. Martay Law Office handles SSD claims cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we will provide you with the tools, guidance, and courtroom representation you need to win benefits without requesting upfront payment. If you’re not approved for disability benefits, you owe us nothing. If we win, our fees will come out of your back benefits. Your future benefit payments will be yours to keep.