What You Need To Know When Filing For Social Security Backpay

If you have been injured to the point that you can no longer perform your old job, you are entitled to receive Social Security benefits to compensate for your inability to work. If you think that you might be entitled to some benefits, you should consider making a claim or at least consulting with a lawyer. Before you begin the process, there are certain things that you need to know. 

Back Pay

You may decide to try other options before you file for disability pay. Since you are eligible for pay from the date of your disability, that means you may have missed out on several months or years worth of benefit payments before you decide to file. If you don't specifically file to receive back payments, then you will start receiving Social Security payments starting on the date that you first file your claim. Thus, you need to make sure that you document that day you first became eligible to receive payments in order to receive back payments.

Do You Need a Lawyer? 

You are not obligated to use a lawyer when you make your claim, but lawyers will understand the process better by virtue of their training and experience in the field. They will understand what sort of evidence you need to substantiate your claims, and how to fill out paperwork to make sure that everything goes according to plan. While you could file a claim on your own, a Social Security disability lawyer will make sure that you complete the process correctly so that you have the best chance of receiving back pay. 

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer?

If you are filing for Social Security disability pay, it is likely that you don't have a lot of money just sitting around. You might even think that you cannot afford a lawyer. This is simply not the case. Lawyers who work SSDI cases are only paid if you are awarded back pay. Even then, they will only take approximately 25% of the award that you receive. 

If you are struggling to make ends meet because of a disability, you have options available to you that can help. While you should first try to find some work, that isn't always possible. If you are no longer able to do your old job, cannot transfer to new work because of your disability, and are likely to have this disability for the foreseeable future, then you can claim disability pay form the government. While this pay will not make you rich, it will help to make ends meet.

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