Debate: Should you go it alone with a lawyer or use a disability advocacy service?

I had my initial hearing at the SSA office in Phoenix last year and got denied. A friend said use a lawyer who takes a cut, but another said go with a nonprofit advocate who works for free. Has anyone else tried both and seen a difference in outcomes?

4 comments

4 Comments

max_brown1mo ago

Lawyer vs advocate depends on your case honestly. Heard of people getting the same results either way. Most important thing is just having someone who knows the process and deadlines.

susansingh1mo ago

Pretty much everything in life works smoother when you've got someone who actually knows the system.

xena_bailey181mo ago

Wait but @max_brown how is a lawyer who takes 25% of your backpay really the same as a free advocate? I've been through this with my cousin and the lawyer actually pushed for a hearing faster because they want their cut sooner. The nonprofit advocate we tried first was nice but totally dropped the ball on deadlines. It's not just about knowing the system its about who has more motivation to win your case. Lawyers are literally paid to get you approved, advocates are just doing it out of kindness and that doesn't always get results.

the_rowan17d ago

yeah I've been through this exact thing @xena_bailey18 and I think it really depends on what kind of backlog your local office has. I used a lawyer first time and they did get me a hearing faster but I still got denied. Then I switched to a free advocate for my appeal and honestly they were way more organized with my medical records and actually caught a mistake in my file that the lawyer missed. The thing with lawyers is they want their cut but they also have a lot of cases so they might not look as close at yours. Advocates have smaller caseloads usually. So idk maybe try the lawyer if you're in a hurry but if you can wait a few extra months the free advocate might give you a better shot.