You may have heard of people being turned down for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) using a lawyer to get benefits. However, many of those applying and being turned down for benefits think they cannot afford such help. The good news is that you can afford a Social Security lawyer to help you because of what is known as a contingency fee plan. To learn all about this way of coping with an SSDI denial, read below.

What Social Security Lawyers Do

Social Security lawyers help people get SSDI benefits by assisting them at their appeal hearings. Everyone that is turned down for benefits has a right to an appeal. This hearing is held in your area and it's your opportunity to explain why you deserve benefits in front of a hearing officer. However, it's important to both understand why you were turned down and to show that the original ruling was incorrect.

That means you must be prepared to show that you cannot perform the duties of your most recent job because of a covered medical or mental health condition. You also must show that you cannot perform those tasks or work at any other alternate job in your area. This can be very difficult for many applicants to do. Social Security lawyers, however, are experienced in dealing with these matters and will help you prepare your case and stand by your side at the hearing. They will challenge unjust opinions and help you prove that you deserve your benefits.

How Contingency Fee Arrangements Work

Social Security lawyers taking part in contingency fee arrangements accept cases based on the client's back pay potential. If you are owed back pay from the Social Security Administration (SSA), as many do, your back pay is provided to you in a single lump sum payment once your benefits are approved. You can also pay your legal fees from your back pay, however.

Your Social Security lawyer, once you sign a representation agreement with them, will be automatically paid a certain percentage of your back pay when it is awarded. However, if you are not approved for benefits, you don't owe the lawyer any money for their work on your case. Your agreement will spell out how much the lawyer will be paid. The SSA oversees and must approve of these contingency fee agreements and there are limits on how much a lawyer can charge clients.

Speak to a Social Security attorney to learn more about using a contingency fee arrangement to deal with your SSDI denial.