Q: Can you hire a different social security disability attorney after you have already applied for benefits?

A: If you are not satisfied with your current social security disability attorney, there is no requirement that you retain his or her services for the rest of the disability review process. You can hire a new attorney. That being said, you should try to speak with your current social security disability attorney before you begin your search for a new one. Often an attorney will not know that a client is unhappy. And the disability review process can take so long sometimes that claimants wonder if they have been forgotten about. Speak with your social security disability attorney first about your concerns. Most any attorney would want a chance to address your concerns first. If you are not comfortable speaking with your attorney, ask to speak with someone else in the firm. There may be another attorney at the firm who is a better fit for you. Staying within the same firm will also mean an easier transition of paperwork and responsibility from one attorney to another. Whether you decide to hire a social security disability attorney at a different firm or stay with the current firm, notify the disability examiner in charge of your claim of your intentions. Get a status update on your claim. You do not want to miss deadlines or delay your claim during the process of switching attorneys. Do not let your current attorney go, until you have hired the new one. After you have hired the new attorney, have him or contact the disability examiner for your claim. After that has occurred, notify your old attorney that his or her services will no longer be required.