Just because you have a disability representative does not mean that you are off the hook for participating in your case.
Many disability applicants have suffered at the hands of a representative’s delays. Quite frankly, it is not your fault if the representative is neither prepared for a hearing nor pressing your case. I have found the common root of the problem is that the applicant for SSDI does not know what questions to ask that would determine if a representative is qualified to take your case.
I estimate that 80 % of the complaints we receive from our members about their Social Security Attorney is that the attorney does not provide updates on cases.
Good attorneys are busy and you are not their only case.That makes it difficult to contact them. In addition to that, their assistants have little knowledge of your case and you are not the only client they are
representing.
Meanwhile the common scenario is that you are out of work and banking on your attorney to win your case so that you can obtain some money in order to survive.
What really drives people crazy is they have no idea what is going on with their case. It’s an awful feeling that most want to avoid.
So, if this is you and if you would like to avoid this gut wrenching feeling, I advocate one very important tip. Establish a communication plan.
If the attorney is going to take your case (or already has) ask he/she to agree on a communication plan. This plan would be a communication period to provide periodic updates on your case. Some folks tell me that they heard from their attorney twice over the process time. Once when the attorney filed the case with Social Security and then the day the applicant was denied. You do not want this to happen to you.
This communication should take place every 45 to 60 days. The update could be a scheduled phone call, letter, or email. This exchange should be with the representative that is working on your case. If there is low or no activity between the periodic updates, then ask what the plan of action will be over the next 60 – 90 days to advance your case.
I encourage you not to leave your case solely in the hands of a representative thinking it’s on auto pilot. This no fuss no muss is promised by many representatives but seldom happens. Therefore take charge of your case because no one cares more about your case than you do.
I encourage you to use a representative as an additional tool to help you. Learn to participate in your case, as much as possible, by applying the knowledge from the FREE disability course.
Holding your representative accountable and monitoring the progress of your case has been the most valued tip on which we have received feedback. It will give you peace of mind and hold the attorney accountable for focusing on your case.
Jonathan Ginsberg expands on this topic and gives tips to manage your attorney or representative and, if they are really getting out of line, how you can get their attention with a registered letter.
Helping You Win Disability Income!
Regards Brian
Ps. Actually some of these tips are valid for other disability related agencies such as vocational rehabilitation for jobs, centers for independent living and HUD for housing.
