NM Disability Legal Blog

To prevent further delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Social Security Administration (SSA) gives disability applicants the option to continue with a telephone hearing. 

Generally, a telephone hearing involves a three-way conference call between you, your attorney, and the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) assigned to your case. The procedure is exactly the same as an in-person hearing, but there are some differences you should be prepared for.
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Finding An Attorney That’s Right For You

Most people are familiar with the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Hidden in that story is a lesson about picking a lawyer – find one that is “just right.”

In the classic nursery rhyme, a young girl named Goldilocks enters the home of Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear while they are out. She sits down to rest until the home’s occupants return, but the chair is too small. The next chair she tries is too big.
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Do I Really Need An Attorney?

It’s not hard to cut your own hair if you have a pair of scissors, but most people still go to a hairdresser. If you want to, you can change the oil in your car and rotate the tires on your own, but most people prefer to visit a mechanic. It’s also possible to fill out all the forms necessary to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) without help from an attorney, but many people choose to get help.
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Although individuals who become disabled in New Mexico and are unable to work may be entitled to disability benefits, the majority of claims are denied. In fact, about two-thirds of initial claims are denied; however, having the assistance of a knowledgeable disability benefits attorney increases the likelihood of obtaining benefits. Meanwhile, this article is a brief overview of the eligibility requirements for disability benefits and the reasons why so many claims are denied.
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