No, you don't have to hire a lawyer to get Social Security disability benefits. You can proceed all the way though the process on your own. However, you probably should hire a lawyer.
There are many pitfalls for the unrepresented claimant. There are technical ones such as understanding what sort of arguments to make in support of your disability claim. Claimants usually have little idea what disability even means to Social Security. There are practical ones such as not knowing the best ways to get in touch with Social Security and how best to prevent unnecessary delay. One important pitfall that isn't often discussed is simply discouragement. The process at Social Security takes a long time. It's hard to contact Social Security. It's hard to understand what's going on. You have to keep filing appeals and filling out forms. You're sick and your patience has already worn thin before even contacting Social Security. The danger is that you'll just give up because you just can't deal with them any further. An attorney can lower your stress level and try to give you enough encouragement to keep moving forward.
Social Security is less of an enemy that you may think but it's more of a bear to deal with that you can imagine. I have likened the agency to the 100 foot tall Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man in the Ghostbusters movies. It's not intentionally mean but it leaves behind it a trail of devastation. If you punch it, your arm just sinks into the marshmallow without effect. We're not ghostbusters but we can help you deal with that marshmallow man.
If you're in NC and want help with your Social Security disability claim, call Hall & Rouse, P.C. at 1-866-425-5347
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