(Newswire.net — August 8, 2021) –When you apply for Social Security benefits, one of the first things that you’ll have to do is file a claim for benefits. That requires you to fill out what’s called a “Claim for Benefits” form, as well as to pay a filing fee. Not everyone who applies for Social Security benefits actually gets benefits, but many do.
There are a number of things a lawyer can do that will help speed up your Social Security benefits application process, including guiding you through the claims process. Below, we’ll look at what benefits a lawyer can do for you.
1. Don’t be discouraged by the claims process
Social Security doesn’t have some kind of super-secretive claims process. In fact, you can file for Social Security claims online. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by Social Security’s claim forms, having a lawyer review them for you can make a big difference.
But if you don’t have any support from an attorney, though, you may experience serious delays. If you were applying in person, for instance, and you need a lawyer to review your claim form, your case might not get processed until weeks after you filed. Then, you’ll wait several weeks for a decision.
Having an attorney review your claim form can expedite your case. But it may not help you if the application form you’re filling out asks you to give Social Security all sorts of personal information and to wait a few weeks for a decision.
2. Don’t forget about filing a separate claim
Another thing that your lawyer can help you with is filing a claim with one of the various Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. You don’t have to apply for SSI when you apply for Social Security benefits, but you can get SSI payments based on your limited income, as well as your age or medical condition. If you don’t fill out a claim for SSI, you might not get your benefits if you do get Social Security.
For instance, you might qualify for SSI if you’re disabled, pregnant, or have a disability that’s expected to last for a long time. Even if your benefits aren’t quite enough to live on, if you’re low on money, they can at least help you make ends meet while you wait for your appeal or decision. You also might qualify for a variety of other types of benefits, including child-care assistance and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which could help you make up the difference between your Social Security benefits and your reduced income.
3. Try to estimate your Social Security benefits
If you don’t have any questions about the Social Security Administration’s claims process, but you know your potential benefits will be very low, you might want to try to estimate them. However, it’s not a good idea to just guess at your benefits. The SSA has set up a webpage that allows you to estimate your benefits by plugging in some personal information. However, you’re better off just contacting an attorney.
Imagine you’re at the height of your career and have been getting full retirement benefits on your work record for several years. You’ve hit full retirement age, but you’re still working and earning some income, even though you don’t want to. You could get an estimate for your estimated Social Security benefits, and then you could use those estimated benefits to adjust your claim for a lower benefit.
Some people who claim Social Security benefits could wind up having their benefit reduced by as much as 20% due to the process or the age at which they file for Social Security. You can reduce the chance of that happening by using an attorney.
Will your benefits be small?
4. Check in with your attorney periodically
Even if you do have a good lawyer to help with your application, the process can be extremely complicated, so it can take time to complete. In that sense, it’s a good idea to let your attorney know about any changes in your situation, including any changes to your income. Your attorney can help keep you up to date on any developments, including any new bills or costs associated with your disability.
5. Adjust your living expenses
For the same reason that your benefits might be small, you also might be paying too much in rent or mortgage payments to receive your full Social Security benefits. If your total monthly expenses exceed what you’ll receive in benefits, you might want to consider working to make up the difference. To make the change, you’ll need to change your benefits application to lower your benefits based on your actual income.
Now that you know how the Social Security Administration processes benefits, you’ll be better prepared to deal with an appeal or decision. If you don’t have an attorney to guide you through the process, you might be tempted to give up before you can obtain your benefits. Don’t give up. You might not be able to get your benefits back to the level you had anticipated, but there’s always a chance that you could receive a higher monthly payment once you complete the process and appeal the decision.