How A Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help You Win Your Case
Posted on: 11 April 2023
A Social Security Disability lawyer can help you win your case by using creative strategies. While the process of applying for Social Security Disability benefits can be lengthy and tedious, an experienced lawyer can help you understand the process and give you the best chance to win your case.
Here are a few strategies a Social Security Disability lawyer might use to help you get the benefits you deserve.
Identifying Relevant Vocational Evidence
Social Security laws require that applicants provide evidence that they cannot work in any capacity due to their impairment.
To do this, a lawyer may use vocational experts to evaluate your medical records and work history. Vocational experts assess an individual's residual functional capacity (RFC), which is the most an individual could still do despite their physical or mental limitations.
The RFC helps vocational experts understand an individual's work-related abilities and the types of jobs that best suit them. A vocational expert's assessment can help identify relevant changes made in employment circumstances that hinder your performance capabilities.
Vocational evidence includes any letters, reports, or medical records that relate to the claimant's work history or physical and mental health.
A Social Security Disability lawyer uses vocational evidence like medical and psychological evaluations, as well as previous employer statements, to substantiate how a medical condition impairs your ability to work. Vocational evidence is crucial when you're unable to perform your previous work, either because of your medical condition or because the work is no longer available or viable.
Your lawyer will prepare a thorough brief to be used when attending a hearing on your behalf. They will submit all relevant data collected during the vocational evaluation process, summarize the evidence, and explain how it relates to the client's specific situation. The brief's visual organization can help the judge identify and understand precise information relevant to the case, which can lead to a successful appeal.
Obtaining Witness Statements
Witness statements from friends, family members, or former employers can also be used as part of the evidence needed for a successful application for Social Security benefits.
Such statements should describe how your medical condition has affected your quality of life or ability to perform everyday activities such as grocery shopping or taking care of children. They could also include past employers' statements about your ability to complete certain tasks or your work history.
An experienced attorney will know which types of witness statements are most persuasive and how they should be structured so they have maximum effect when presented before a judge.
For instance, if you're applying for benefits due to depression, a lawyer can use statements from family members describing the changes in your behavior and personality since your diagnosis. They could even submit evidence of your current inability to engage in activities you used to enjoy, such as traveling or socializing with friends.
For more information on Social Security Disability law, contact a professional near you.
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