Paralegals and Possibilities: The Sky is the Limit

Contributed by Lisa S. Wagman, CP
How many of you have ever felt like there has to be more to the paralegal profession then what most people see on the surface? What new and wonderful things could you do with the knowledge and experience that you have developed throughout your paralegal career? How can you apply what you already know, along with your many talents and abilities to make even more of a difference in society?

This is a concept that I have addressed in the recent past and have decided to act upon. I believe that there are unlimited opportunities out there for paralegals beyond the integral traditional role that we play in the legal world. So I put a plan into place, set a goal, and have now achieved that goal!

It has always been important to me to reach out to others and make a difference in the world. After a great deal of thinking, I decided that there was a great need out there to help disabled individuals apply for disability benefits and win their claims! This process is not an easy one for anyone to undertake. It can be extremely overwhelming and tedious, not to mention frustrating.

I help claimants to obtain Social Security disability benefits locally, regionally and nationally whether they are about to file their initial application for benefits, have already been denied benefits, or are in the appeal stage of their claim.

Most people who apply for disability benefits are denied on their initial application. They accept this and move on. However, if they truly are disabled and feel that they are entitled to benefits, they should never give up! This is where I come in. I guide people through the overwhelming bureaucratic maze of policies, rules and regulations that we call the Social Security Administration. I help people to efficiently process their claims by obtaining and providing the necessary evidence that is required by SSA to win a positive determination.

The evidence must show that an individual is unable to work at his or her past job, or at any job in the general economy, for at least 12 months or longer in order to win an award of benefits. There are key factors that are taken into consideration in the evaluation of a claim. They include but are not limited to factors such as age, educational level, vocational background, physical and mental impairments, severity of pain and medicinal side effects.

Evidence consists of medical records and reports, vocational records, possibly vocational evaluations, certifications of witnesses to address the claimant’s activities of daily living, and certifications of physicians to provide a medical opinion on the claimant’s physical and mental impairments and the resulting limitations from these impairments.

When a claimant is about to apply for disability benefits, they must complete an extensive application at their local Social Security Administration field office, by telephone, or through their official website. They must also provide numerous personal documents in support of their claim as well as evidence to prove that they are disabled. The first mistake that most people make at this stage of the claim process is that they rely solely upon SSA to obtain all of the evidence needed to prove their claim. Unfortunately, the claims adjudicators do not have the time to accumulate all of the required evidence and very often obtain only a scaled down version of the medical records and they may not request past work records.

When a claimant is denied benefits on their initial application, they have 60 days from the first denial to file for reconsideration. This involves filling out additional paperwork and making sure that all additional pertinent evidence is submitted to SSA for consideration.

If the claim is denied on the reconsideration level, an appeal must be filed within 60 days of the second denial and the claim will now be decided at a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Any additional evidence to prove the claim must be submitted for consideration by the AJL prior to the hearing.

Most individuals do not know how to properly process their claims and do not understand the complicated analysis that is utilized by SSA when determining a claim. Therefore, it is essential that a claimant retain a Social Security disability representative from the outset of their claim to ensure that the proper evidence is submitted to SSA for consideration. By doing this, a claimant has a much better chance of winning an award of disability and it will effectively speed up the process.

It is my hope that I will be able to make a difference in many people’s lives by helping them to obtain the disability benefits they so desperately need.

I feel that my background and experience as a practicing paralegal in personal injury litigation has provided me with the necessary knowledge and skill to help people obtain the disability benefits that they are entitled to.

While it takes a lot of energy and motivation to make a change in your professional life, your dreams and desires can come true if you really set your mind to it. Never second guess your skills, competence and abilities. Soar to a higher plateau and never stop until you are satisfied that you have reached your professional destination! Best of luck on your professional journey!

Call us today at (770) 381-7200 or complete the "Request More Information" form on the left side of the page to take the next step towards your new career.

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