How do you pick an SSI/SSD lawyer?

[Smarmie Doofus]

Long story short, my brother was disabled two + years ago and cannot work. Also, has no money. Benefits have been tied up in bureucratic red tape and he has been living on money friends and relatives have loaned him.

The gist is: it seems we've got to go back to square one with SS and re-apply.

I'm not going to do this alone this time. But I want to avoid the yellow pages.

We're in the NY/CT area. Is there an advocacy group that screens attys and/or makes referrals?

[hyphenate]

1. Most of them are pretty much the same

But I used Binder and Binder when I went for mine, because they're nationwide. They are in NYC--their main branch, anyhow.

The website will give you a lot more information. http://www.binderandbinder.com

The maximum that any lawyer will take is 25% of the received benefits backpay, up to $5000. That's Federal Law. But Binder and Binder did all the paperwork and followup, and I barely had to do anything.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Their commercials scare me.....

>>>The maximum that any lawyer will take is 25% of the received benefits backpay, up to $5000. That's Federal Law. But Binder and Binder did all the paperwork and followup, and I barely had to do anything.>>>


... they are *everywhere*. But I like the part about the paperwork. Thanks.

[DUgosh]

3. I found useful info here

disabilitysecrets.com

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Bookmarked it. Thanks. I need to take a vacation...

... to read all of this stuff.

Good site.

[Traveling_Home]

4. Here ya go

http://www.nosscr.org/
This is the national association for SS disability lawyers.

http://www.nosscr.org/refer.html
They have a referral page. Also remember - if they don't win they don't get paid.

Good Luck

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Thanks. I'll scroll thru manana. Good stuff. n/t

[Bluestar]

7. I was nervous about this too

Until I found out that all payments to these lawyers are regulated by the government. They take 25% of back pay only up to $5,000. They can't get any future payments. You just need to make sure the one you use does exclusively disability cases. That's because they need to know how to fill out the paperwork and they need connections within the court that you will be assigned to.

My firm filled out all the paperwork. They even sent a paralegal to my home to get my information. I never had to go through the physical challenge of going to their offices. I got a little frustrated because the hearing took so long, but that was really the government's fault--it took about 15 months before my hearing was scheduled. If you are not yet in the hearing stage, you may get a favorable ruling faster without having to go for a hearing. Good luck and get moving--you have very little to lose.

[dysfunctional press]

8. i actually did pretty well just using the yellow pages.

why so averse to using them yourself?

[cutlassmama]

9. I kept seeing his ad on TV commercials.