Social Security Advocate Training

You can work as a disability advocate to help people get benefits.

Social Security advocates help people get Social Security disability benefits. The work requires knowledge of the disability process. There is no formal certification for the job. Many advocates are former employees of Social Security.

Features

The disability advocate must like working with people.

A Social Security advocate must know the requirements for Social Security disability benefits and have some knowledge of medical terms and body systems. Most advocates train on the job or work for law firms that provide training. Advocates can also be unpaid volunteers.

Function

Most people do not look for a disability advocate until after their first denial.

The disability advocate can help in the original application for disability benefits, but people tend to hire an advocate after the first denial. Generally speaking, about two out of every three applicants are denied at the initial level.

Training

An advocate needs to know the law and something about medicine.

The advocate must understand the disability process. Social Security has a list of criteria that the advocate must know before assisting someone.

Types

Some disability advocates are paralegals.

Some disability advocates specialize in certain kinds of claims, but disabilities such as mental health issues require different approaches. Advocates can be paid a percentage of past-due benefits directly by SSA once a claim has been allowed.

Warning

Beware of online training scams.

There are numerous online "courses" for a fee for this kind of training. Social Security does not certify or provide any special requirements for the training of an advocate.

References

• "Buffalo News" article; Take it from the judges: Disability cases too drawn out; Dan Herbeck, 10/9/09
• Social Security Administration Fee Requirements

Resources

• Social Security Administration Listing of Impairments