New President? New Hope?

Does President Obama’s election mean that Social Security Disability cases are going to be decided faster?

It is certainly more complicated than who is president. Of course, it is probably more likely with President Obama’s election that more resources may be available for the Social Security Administration.

However, there are all kinds of budget pressures from defense spending to bailout funding. The bottom line is that more staff is needed and better use of technology and increased technology spending are all needed to move disability cases faster.

The two year plus wait is terrible and inexcusable but I do not see it changing dramatically till late in President elect Obama’s first term.

The ray of hope is that the Obama Administration will be more sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities.

 

attorney fees

When a lawyer represents you in Social Security disability cases the Social Security Administration controls the fees that can be charged. You can only be charged if you win your disability case. The fee is limited to 25% of back benefits or $5,300 whichever represents the lower amount. This means if you have back benefits that approach $30,000 or above then you pay no fees on this amount. Fees are also limited to back benefits. That is, only on benefits that accrue through the date of hearing. When you win, in most cases, you will also be entitled to a monthly check for the rest of your life. There are no attorneys fees on the monthly social security disability benefit check you receive for the rest of your life.

The system Social Security has set up is advantageous for you. You can have an attorney represent you in a disability case and you pay no up front fees, and you pay no fees on your lifetime benefits that may result in hundreds of thousands of dollars for you.

A lawyer is allowed to charge you separately for the costs of medical records and reports in addition to the fees.

Please feel free to call me, Dirk May, at 309-827-4371 to discuss how an experienced Social Security disability attorney can help you be prepared for one of the most important days of your life: your Social Security hearing.