I recently met with a woman applying for Social Security disability benefits. She made multiple prior applications, but she never worked with a lawyer.
She had a serious back injury, which was well documented by MRI and CT Myelogram reports. She has had a number of doctors involved in her case over several years, including a number of specialists.
Yet, over and over again, she applied and had been turned down. She even appealed and took the case in front of a judge I know well, and she was still turned down. She asked what she could do?
I talked to her about the apparent inertia in Social Security cases. If you make a couple of applications, your chances of winning, seem to go down. Not impossible, of course. But, if trying to get Social Security is like pushing a boulder, then trying to get Social Security on a third or fourth application is like pushing a boulder up a hill!
I reviewed her treatment history and saw a number of records which could be extremely helpful. I also identified several specialists who could be contacted for medical opinions.
By the end of the consultation, together we had put together an plan of attack to build her case.
I am often asked, what will a lawyer do for me? I sometimes have a hard time answering this question. But this woman’s case helped me find an answer.
When you work with an attorney, you get someone trained in the ins and outs of the Social Security system to take a fresh look at the totality of your case. A lawyer can help you pull out the most critical threads, strengthen the weaknesses and weave together all the disparate elements into an easily understandable, convincing, and compelling explanation of why you are disabled.
The best attorneys make you feel empowered; like you can face any challenge. If you go to a consultation and do not feel that, keep looking. You just have not found the right attorney yet.
