If you are disabled and thinking of applying for SSI you might be also wondering if you need to hire an attorney. When you apply for SSI it can be a confusing process. There is a lot of paperwork involved and for many people this can be overwhelming. The process from start to finish can take up to two years and with the help of an attorney, you will be kept up to speed with what to expect.

It is not required that you have an attorney file the paperwork for you but it is not a bad idea either. A qualified disability attorney will know what the Social Security Administration expects and this will eliminate the guesswork on your part. An attorney will also help you meet deadlines, that if you were to miss would automatically cause your application to be rejected.

Often times going to an attorney about applying for SSI will save you time and money. An attorney that deals with disability cases will tell you upfront if you have a chance of getting SSI. Disability lawyers deal with SSI and SSDI cases and are familiar with who is approved and who isn’t. They can also tell you how to fill out the application completely so that it will be accepted and forwarded to Disability Determination Services (DDS) faster.

The process if you decided to go without an attorney would involve more work on your part. You would first have to call for an appointment and then fill out the paperwork. The paperwork is reviewed at your interview with a Social Security Administration representative and this interview can take up to an hour. If it is determined that you meet the basic requirements your application is forwarded to the DDS. If not, you may be asked to bring back more information or denied on the spot.

Say for example, you meet requirements, now you wait for your application to go through the evaluation steps and there are five of those. There are more applications rejected for SSI then there is approved. Now you have to go through the appeal process. If you had an attorney, he or she would be there for you to walk you through each step. Even though you can ask for an appeal or a reconsideration of your application without an attorney, if you had one, he would have automatically requested one your benefit.

Hiring a SSI attorney is not mandatory. You can apply for SSI without one. You can request an appeal without an attorney. But, with an attorney your application has a better chance of getting approved. You will not be alone during a time that can be overwhelming and emotional. The time it can take to get your application approved is worth considering an attorney, because for most people it can take up to two years and at least an appeal before they see any results. With an attorney on your side, you can rest knowing that everything that can be done will be.