Having a Great Relationship with your Attorney and Staff is very Important. Who do I talk to?

A great relationship with your attorney office is key to having a successful outcome.  The process of obtaining your Social Security Disability benefits is a long-drawn-out process and is very stressful; however, your representative and staff will help you navigate through the process and they are there to help you every step along the way.

Throughout your process, you will speak to various staff members at your attorneys’ office.  Each staff member is very important and is there to assist in one way or another, so it is important that you maintain a great working relationship with each employee that you encounter because they all play a unique role in helping you to obtain your benefits. 

Initial contact with an attorney office usually starts with the receptionist and the intake specialist. The intake specialist is responsible for obtaining information to help determine the merit of your case. They will also obtain personal information, claim information and pertinent documents needed prior to your claim being assigned to a paralegal. 

The paralegal will be your main point of contact once you have been accepted as a client and is there to answer questions you may have along the way. It is very important you have a good line of communication with your paralegal and you must respond to all requests even if you do not understand why the request is being made. Your paralegal serves as the “middleman” between you and Social Security and is responsible for obtaining the evidence to help prove your claim of disability and for making sure your attorney has everything they need to properly represent you before the Administration.  

Your attorney is the piece of the pie that will be responsible for developing the theory to be presented to the Administration.  Your attorney will review your entire file so they can determine if any additional documents, medical evidence, or opinions is needed prior to your hearing before the Administrative Law Judge.  Your attorney will prep you for your hearing and will do what is necessary to make you feel comfortable about the process and discuss with you about the likelihood of obtaining a favorable outcome. 

It is important to be open and honest about your situation, the more we know the better we can assist you.  We are here to help you! 


- Charmaine King Smith 

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