Services

Why Hire An Attorney
There are “non-lawyers” who also represent people in disability claims. Although the law permits “non-lawyers” representation, is this the smart way to go? These types of “non-lawyer” representatives are probably as good as an attorney who only occasionally handles a social security case. However, your social security hearing is a legal proceeding. Social security judges are all lawyers who have specialized in social security law. It simply makes no sense not to have an attorney who has skill and experience in social security law to handle your case. The cost is the same. Additionally, if your case needs to be appealed into the federal court system, the “non-lawyer” representative can no longer represent you.

When To Hire An Attorney
If a person files for benefits on their own and are denied, the vast majority of their cases will ultimately go to a social security hearing. It makes very little sense to put off hiring an attorney. The cost of representation will be the same; therefore, it makes sense to get representation as early as possible in the process.

Does it make sense to hire an attorney from the very outset of the claim? In many cases it does. There are certain types of claims where an initial denial is almost certain. A claim involves much more than “filling out some papers.” Statements that are made in the initial “paperwork” can often come back to undermine a claim because the question was poorly or incompletely answered. It usually costs no more to have legal representation from the very beginning in cases that ultimately proceed to a hearing.

Attorney Fees
Attorney Angermeier will usually utilize a contingent fee agreement approved by the Social Security Administration. He is only paid if he wins the case. His fee is 25 percent of the past due benefits (with a current maximum of $6,000) which are awarded to the disabled Claimant and his family.

In addition to the fees, the Claimant is responsible for reimbursing attorney Angermeier for any costs incurred to obtain medical records or medical reports.

If our client is currently receiving benefits and his case is being reviewed, a different fee arrangement would need to be utilized since there are no back benefits in such cases.