Client Intake
Making an intelligent decision about whether to represent a Social Security disability claimant requires a basic understanding of how the Social Security Administration determines disability and a careful analysis of issues like the claimant’s age, education, work experience, and capacity for work.
However, client intake for Social Security disability cases is also determined by your resources and style of representation. Sometimes you will find that there is no “right” answer for whether or not you should accept a client, and your decision will depend on considerations such as the following:
- Will you represent claimants prior to the hearing stage?
- Will you represent every claimant who contacts you?
- If not, what criteria will you use to screen cases (frivolousness, probability of success)?
- Will you screen cases or will a paralegal do it? In person or over the phone?
- Will you help claimants complete their appeal forms?
- How will you handle expenses?
In this section of the website, you will find resources to help with the client intake process, including a Social Security disability client intake form, an intake checklist organizing the steps to take after accepting a client, and a collection of articles about how to identify and address potential problem areas in a case, such as receipt of unemployment benefits and part-time employment.
