Warning: That disability lawyer told me to say I can't work at all, big mistake

I was talking to this lawyer in Sacramento last month and he kept pushing me to say I'm completely unable to do any kind of work. He said that's the only way to get approved for disability fast. I went along with it because I was desperate and tired of waiting. But then my doctor wrote a note saying I could still do light desk work and the judge used that against me. Now I have a denial letter and a note on my file that makes me look dishonest. I feel like that advice set me back months. Has anyone else had a lawyer give them bad advice like this and then get stuck? I'm thinking about switching lawyers but I'm not sure if that helps.

2 comments

2 Comments

bettymurphy16d ago

Wait did you talk to more than one lawyer before picking the one you went with? I went through the same thing in Fresno and that first lawyer was all about that same line too. But I switched after my denial to a smaller firm that actually listened to my specific limits instead of pushing one story. With the new guy I told them I can do some stuff but not my old job and they worked with my doctors to show how my condition changes day to day. It took a few more months but the second application went through because the judge saw the records matched what I said. Maybe look for someone who specializes in your kind of disability not just any SSDI case.

the_fiona16d ago

Thats really good advice right there. Going with a lawyer who just wants to fit you into a cookie cutter story is such a gamble. It sounds like you dodged a bullet by switching to someone who actually paid attention to your specific situation. The part about working with your doctors to show how your condition changes day to day is huge. So many people dont realize that your disability doesnt have to be the exact same every single day for it to count. Glad it worked out for you in the end, that gives some hope to folks still stuck in that first lawyer trap.