Before retirement, you should consider many important things. In the
previous part of this blog series, we discussed power of
attorney. In this part of the blog series, we will discuss if you need an
attorney to file for social security benefits and what to do if you’re denied.
Do I need an attorney in order to file for social
security retirement benefits?
You do not
need an attorney in order to file for social security retirement benefits1, although you may find it helpful. You can
file for social security benefits on your own. However, you may want to contact
your financial planner when you apply for social security benefits. Although
you can file on your own, the guidance of a financial planner2 is often useful.
What can I do if I am denied from social security?
If you are
denied from social security, then you may want to appeal this decision.
You can appeal this kind of decision without an attorney on the Social
Security Administration website or through a written letter. You must appeal within
sixty days of receiving your denial. There are four levels of appeal3.
The first is reconsideration. The second level is a hearing in front of
an administrative law judge. The third level is a review by the Appeals
Council. The final level of appeal is a federal court appeal. Although
legally, you are not required to have an attorney to complete this process, at Kemp & Associates, we strongly suggest that you contact one. There are
a number of attorneys who specialize in making appeals to the Social Security
Administration and their expertise would be incredibly beneficial in your
appeal process.
Retirement
is a complicated process, but with good advice and guidance from experts, the
process gets less complex. Sometimes in the process of retirement you will need
to consult an attorney. At Kemp & Associates, we’re here to help you figure out when. In the next and
final part of this blog post, we will discuss some final
retirement considerations.
1 "Retirement Benefits SSA Publication No. 05-10035, ICN
457500" Social Security Administration, July 2012; http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10035.html
3 "The
Appeals Process SSA Publication No. 05-10041, ICN 459260" Social Security
Administration, January 2008; http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10041.html
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information herein has been prepared solely for informational purposes, and it
is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell
any security or instrument or to participate in any particular trading
strategy.
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Kemp and Associates and NPC are separate and unrelated companies. NPC PRIVACY POLICY. NPC #
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