If you’ve applied for Social Security Disability benefits and are waiting for your hearing, you’re probably wondering: Do I need a lawyer to help me?
The answer—according to the Social Security Administration’s own data—is a resounding yes.
Statistics show that having a disability attorney on your side dramatically improves your chances of winning your case.
Let’s take a closer look at why hiring a disability lawyer in Harrison, Arkansas can make the difference between winning your benefits—or walking away with nothing.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Represented Claimants Win More Often
Social Security recently released data comparing approval rates for people who go to hearings with attorneys versus those who represent themselves.
The difference is staggering:
- Claimants with an attorney: About 50% win rate
- Claimants without an attorney: Only 13% win rate
That’s nearly a four times greater chance of success if you have a qualified Social Security lawyer by your side.
These aren’t just estimates. This is real data collected by Social Security over time.
In short: if you go to a disability hearing in Harrison, AR without legal help, you’re facing much tougher odds.
But with experienced legal representation, your chances go up significantly.
Why Does an Arkansas Disability Attorney Make Such a Big Difference?
You may be thinking: “I know I’m disabled. Can’t I just explain that to the judge?” Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Social Security hearings are legal proceedings, and judges expect you to understand and follow very specific procedures.
Here’s where an experienced attorney makes all the difference.
Disability Hearings Are Fast-Paced and Technical
Judges today are on tight schedules. Most hearings are booked in 45-minute slots, and some judges may handle 3 to 5 hearings in a single day.
If you walk into your hearing unprepared, without your evidence organized or your legal arguments ready, you’re putting the judge in a difficult position—and hurting your case.
An experienced disability attorney prepares everything in advance:
- Reviews your medical records
- Submits updated evidence
- Prepares an opening statement
- Highlights favorable evidence
- Outlines a legal theory of disability
If you try to handle all of this on your own, your hearing could drag on unnecessarily.
Judges often become frustrated when they have to explain the process or delay their schedule, and that may reflect negatively on your case.
Nobody Updates Your Medical Records for You
Once you request a hearing, Social Security stops collecting your medical records.
It can take a year or longer to get your hearing date, and if you don’t update your file, the judge may be looking at outdated information.
If the most recent record in your file is from 18 months ago, it may look like your condition has improved—or that you’re no longer receiving treatment.
An experienced Arkansas disability attorney knows how to:
- Request updated records from your doctors
- Organize them by provider
- Submit them correctly (including barcodes and fax procedures)
- Remove duplicate records
Trying to do this all by yourself is confusing.
Social Security requires specific barcoded cover sheets for each provider, and if done incorrectly, your records may never be linked to your case.
That’s a huge risk you don’t want to take.
You Need a Specific Legal Theory For Your Disability Case That Fits SSA Rules
There are three main ways to win a disability case:
- Meeting a Listing (a specific medical standard)
- Qualifying under the Medical-Vocational “Grid Rules”
- Showing functional limitations that prevent full-time work
Most people don’t understand how to frame their case around one of these legal standards.
But experienced disability attorneys do this every day.
We know how to build a narrative using the evidence, such as:
“Exhibit 13F, page 9 shows that my client cannot sit for more than 15 minutes due to degenerative disc disease, which supports a finding of disability under the residual functional capacity rules.”
This is the kind of argument that helps a judge quickly and confidently approve your case.
Without this type of specific legal structure, your case may appear weak. Even if you’re truly disabled.
Self-Representation Is Risky and Time-Consuming
Some people in Boone County and throughout north Arkansas try to represent themselves at their disability hearings to save money. But this can be a costly mistake.
A Social Security attorney does charge up to 25% of your past-due benefits (not your payments going forward), but:
- The fee is currently capped at $9,200 (this does change from time to time)
- Most people end up paying far less
- If you don’t win, you don’t pay
Compare that to losing your case entirely and receiving nothing—which is the outcome for most unrepresented claimants.
As the saying goes: 75% of something is better than 100% of nothing.
Arkansas Judges Are Busy — Help Them Help You
Judges want to approve claims—but only if they’re well-supported.
If your file is messy, your evidence is outdated, and there’s no clear legal argument, you’re asking the judge to do all the work.
And in a packed hearing schedule, that just doesn’t happen.
Most judges in Arkansas will not keep your file open so you can submit more evidence later.
They want to make a decision quickly, based on what’s already in the record.
That’s why having your case prepared before the hearing is so critical.
Don’t Let a Technical Mistake Cost You the Benefits You Deserve
At our office in Harrison, Arkansas, we’ve helped countless clients win disability benefits they were initially denied.
Many of them had strong medical conditions, but their cases lacked organization and legal direction.
Once we stepped in, we handled:
- Gathering and submitting updated records
- Preparing the case for the judge
- Representing the client at the hearing
- Arguing for a favorable decision based on Social Security law
You don’t need to face this process alone.
We understand how the system works—and how to make your case stand out.
Talk to an Experienced Harrison Disability Lawyer Today
If you’re preparing for a Social Security Disability hearing in Harrison or anywhere in northern Arkansas, don’t go it alone.
The numbers clearly show that represented claimants win far more often.
Let us help you build a strong case, avoid costly mistakes, and fight for the benefits you’ve earned.
We don’t charge anything unless we win your case, and consultations are always free.
Call our office today or fill out our online form to schedule your free disability consultation.
Need Help with Your Arkansas Social Security Disability Claim?
At The Krebs Law Firm, we specialize in Social Security Disability law and are dedicated to helping you navigate the complexities of the application process. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
At The Krebs Law Firm, we fight as hard as we can to help you get the disability coverage you deserve. Call today for a free consultation at (870) 741-8100 or toll free at (800) 345-0535.
It can be daunting learning the ins and outs of Social Security Disability benefits, but it’s not a task you need to take on alone. Call on an Arkansas Disability Attorney from The Krebs Law Firm to help you every step of the way.
We offer a free book on Social Security Disability benefits to Arkansas residents. Give us a call at (870) 741-8100. We have an office in Harrison, Arkansas just a couple of doors down from the Harrison Social Security Office.
Jason Krebs is licensed in both Arkansas and Missouri. Our main office is in Springfield Missouri. Our Harrison Arkansas office is by appointment only. The address is 125 Industrial Park Road Suite E1 Harrison Arkansas 72601. Our local phone number in Harrison is (870) 741-8100. Our Toll Free phone number is (800) 345-0535. You can also send us an email to contact@KrebsLawOffice.com.