What do I look for on finding a "good/great" disability attorney?
I expect them to a chunk out right away.

Don't be afraid to ask for a reference or two. Most get paid a set amount regardless of what the settlement ends up being and they don't get paid if you don't win. Most are easy to talk to and will tell you what to expect so I would call around and see what they say. Of course this may vary from state to state.

do a google search. Like scout said, they are limited to what they can take and it ain't much.

you need a dr and medical records to tell ss why your disabled. you ever get a diagnosis or they still testing you?

Thanks. Keep it coming.
Danny, both. They are treating me for seizures with a possibility of Parkinsons. I go for a follow up in the morning.

I applied by myself. Denied. Applied again and denied. Applied to admin law judge and won. No attorney was ever used. Got to have facts and complete medical records in order.

Adam how old are you if you don't mind me asking ?

That's awesome Charles. My wife was mad when I didn't get one when I filed my appeal. I'm not trying to deal with that again.
Tinknocker,35 with 21 years of paid work under my belt.

From what I've been told, it's rare one ever gets it on the first try so be prepared for a rejection letter. Yes, records are important and the judge will want to see them. Also make sure to tell the Dr. everything as the judge will take this into concideration so don't be bashful about telling the Dr. just how you feel. Tell them how your average day goes and the troubles you have doing the simple everyday things. It may take some time for things to happen but just hang in there!

I think SSDI attorneys are limited to getting around 20-25 percent of the accrued benefits (the amount of benefits from the time you applied to when you were approved). You only have to pay them if you win, and they get nothing from your future benefits.

If you're denied, you ought to at least see an attorney. Should be no cost for the initial consult. You might even try interviewing a few attorneys on the phone or in person.

You can try appealing yourself, like Charles did, but be warned, you probably get only one shot at appealing to an ALJ. If you do it on your own and lose, it may be too late for an attorney to help you.

If I ever applied for disability and was denied, I would hire an attorney to handle the appeal--and I am an ex-attorney. (Not SSDI, though.)

Jim

What is the old saying James? A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client?? LLL

Hate to hear that Adam. Cant imagine being unable to drive.

We tried 3.5 years to get it for my wife, her fibromyalgia was stronger about 8-9 years ago, no one understands fibromyalgia

I believe the max here is 40% hopefully I'm wrong.
Danny its terrible. There are times I absolutely have to drive and even when I do I hate it because one moment I'm fine the next moment I can barely function. If I have to I try not to drive far.
That's terrible tactical. No they don't

I would look for an attorney that specializes in disability cases.

Get with the Spence Law Firm in Jackson Hole Wyo.

The Cadillac and the Rolex

By law, your attorney can receive 25% of your first check, or $6000, which ever is less.

This is solid advice and what I see happen a lot. Many ALJs will partly advocate for you (not technically) because they know you're not as familiar with the systems and lingo as they agency's reps are.

Ok BEFORE you get an attorney got to your local SS office and fill out the applicaton first. I got mine and didn't have a lawyer. It went thru in 3-4 weeks

Your local SS office can give you several attorneys you can call. A call doesn't cost you one red cent and they are happy to answer any questions you may have. I recommend calling a few and ask the same questions and see what you get for answers. Every state and case is different so don't count on everything you read on this discussion as gospel, unless the one giving the advice is a disability attorney.

Morgan & Morgan .... check it out it is a lock!

Yes! By all means! The best place to shop for an ambulance chaser is on late night cable TV.

If your having seizures I don't understand how you can still have a license? If you don't, don't get caught driving. Big money maker here to pull licenses then fine people cause they "have" to drive.

Thanks 20scout.
They don't take them here until renewal time.

Adam, what at 35, is your diagnosis? What has been confirmed?

20scout, the SS system is national and the standards for disability should be the same in every state.

Jim

Catch22, Besides seizures? I have at least 15 discs that are completely jacked and bad knees (both prior work injuries). They haven't ruled out Parkinsons and now also looking into fibro. since I'm in pain all day everyday. the pain is worse when I have seizure(s). It's bad without them but after I have them the pain is much more intense

Exactly

This.

What difference does his medical diagnosis make? We're not going to decide his disability issue here.

The man may prefer to keep his medical information private. I do.

Jim

He ask advise on a public forum, I don't believe your twisted Socratic method of communication falls in the terms of privacy James. This is his post, who cares about your wishes besides you and maybe Obummer, which means naught!

Are you his agent now?

The man asked for advice on SSDI attorneys and the disability process. He didn't offer to put his medical issues on display for an advisory Tman opinion on his disability.

Jim

Boy, are you right. Took my girlfriend 3 years to get on because of fibro. Many days she can barely get out of bed. Actually going in today for surgery that hopefully gives her relief. Called Nerve Decompression, guess it is fairly new and gives 80% relief.

I put it anyway.

You're clearly looking to the bash the OP, and now James too. Why don't you sit down and shut up and everybody on the forum will fell a lot smarter.

well your no Jack Pine Savage that's for sure but you have wonderful typing skills maybe you could get a desk job if this whole Disability thing don't work out ps your wife have a sister im looking for a sugar mamma

I filed by myself because I had a lonterm disability policy at work and was required by it to apply for SSD. My private policy paid an excess amount until age 65. The Admin Law Judge picked up on an old diagnosis of a different problem and considered it with my new records to make a favorable judgememt based on two medical problems. Think I got disability payments for about 10 years until age 65. Benefits from the private longterm disability policy were tax free because I paid the premiums myself.

I had my ducks in a row. Documentating letters and comprehensive medical records are essential.

Man Catch....you charging rent for all that space Obama is taking up in between your years?

insurance has been my career for the last 10 years but with seizures comes cognitive problems on top of that my speech has gotten terrible + the constant pain make normal things really difficult.
I would need a job where I could come and go when I can. 2 days this week I can barely function.

Lol even if she did I wouldn't want you to be tortured.

i have had 3 strokes Adam i get it dude ... your mind says yea i can and your body says huh ?

i wish you and your family all the best buddie !

Adam, I am trying to help you. I realize that you have ask for advice on a Attorney, however it didn't seem to me that you have any rock solid diagnosis. At 35, the cards are already stacked against you because 50 and up seems to be the magic number with SSDI. Regardless of how good your Attorney is you will need to be diagnosed with something serious enough to prevent you from being employable. Employable is the key word, a lot of people wrongfully misinterpret the fact someone can go fishing, then pay for it for two days afterwords with, heck, if he can fish he can work. My advice is to get solid Dr records, with proper diagnosis. You should keep your medical records in order even though your Attorney will acquire them. If you don't have the goods so to speak when you go before the Judge, you may loose. It sounds like your in bad shape and in a lot of pain. Hopefully you can find a good Dr and get all the ammo you need for your hearing. As for the Attorney, get one who specializes in SS, they have a working knowledge of not only the system, but the Judges themselves. I wish you the best of luck!

The definition of SS disability is that you must be unable to do any job, not just your old job or something you are reasonably trained for. There are some presumptive disabilities, like blindness.

I too was in the insurance business. Disability insurance was a hard product to sell even though we are 3X as likely to become disabled in any year as to die in that year, plus you can be disabled more than once. A lot of people try to fake a disability as well.

Disabled people can have tremendous bills and no income. A dead person not so much.

Thanks guys I appreciate it.
Yup been switching Dr's and getting new ones for awhile. The last few have been terrible. I hate not being able to work or barely leaving the house.
This morning I woke up and could barely move. Even taking a drink is very painful let alone anything else.

Disability was a hard sell for sure. The sad part is those that fake it get it. I've never understood how someone with ADHD could get ssdi right away but someone with legit medical conditions has to jump through hoops.

I’m not trying to encourage any vetting of a diagnosis over a forum, just echoing what others are saying about getting clear documentation and a diagnosis. Sounds like things aren’t real clear and you haven’t gotten all the medical questions answered. Generally a recipe for failure. I am a physician, and a specialist who rarely gets asked to help with disability, but when I do it is all too often someone who has something treatable and they let it go, or are non-compliant which I don’t think is grounds for DI. Lots of misdiagnosis too. So many BS situations. You owe it to yourself and your family to get a real work up.

Your age is one thing that will auto get you denied. Fifty is the magic age (or so I was told). I was 51 and as stated earlier mine went thru in 3-4 weeks. BUT the reason for you applying is also a big factor.

That's what the attorneys told me today. The law is nationwide not state specific