Military personnel are given benefits other citizens are not. It’s not surprising this is the case when you consider the sacrifices they make. Some risk their lives to protect American citizens, and others lose them. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for servicemen and women to return home with life-changing disabilities. Disability benefits are typically paid to these individuals so that they can continue to live ordinary lives back in normal society, especially if they are unable to work. This post will explore this topic, telling you what you should do to maximize financial benefits if you are a veteran.
Hiring Legal Support
One of the easiest and most effective ways to maximize your benefits is to get in touch with a professional attorney and pay them to help you. A trained team of Georgia veterans disability benefits attorneys are the best possible people you can reach out to to represent you. A lawyer will either be able to make a claim for you or appeal one that has been denied. Many veterans have their appeals denied because their disabilities do not qualify in the eyes of the government. However, these denials can successfully be appealed with a professional attorney’s support. In terms of making a claim, the process can be highly complex and very stressful. When you are living with newly acquired disabilities, the last thing you need is to be put through intense stress. Stress can hinder your recovery or make your problems much worse.
In terms of finding a lawyer, the first thing you need to do is to find one with good customer feedback left on their website. Positive feedback suggests a law firm can be trusted to deliver a high-quality service. Feedback isn’t the only thing you need to check, however. It’s also important to take a look at the amount of compensation a law firm has won for its clients in the past, which will usually be advertised on its homepage. The higher the amount, the better they are at their job. Finally, think about fees. Law firms are not charities; they charge for their services. You need to find a firm whose services are within your budget. Work out how much you can afford to spend, then start looking. Some law firms offer their services on no-win-no-fee arrangements or contingency plans. This is when a law firm only takes payment after a client has been awarded a settlement. Try to find a firm that’s offering plans of this kind.
Providing Evidence
Once you have found a lawyer you are comfortable working with, you need to give them evidence that supports your claim. Evidence is important because it makes it very difficult for the government or the VA to refute and deny your claim. The kind of evidence you need depends on the severity of your injuries. Usually, all you will need is a written note from your commanding officer verifying your injuries occurred whilst serving in the military, and a note from your doctor that explains the extent of your injuries and how they have changed your life, and will continue to do so.
Evidence can be submitted directly to your attorney. You need to make sure that you give some to your lawyer as soon as you make your claim, so the claim is not delayed. The longer you take to submit it, the longer your appeal or claim will take to be formalized. You can also take photos and videos of your injuries, and explain in a written note how they have changed your life. Explaining how they have changed your life is a great way for you to maximize benefits since you can tell the government how your life is different now, and why you can’t make money as effectively.
Remaining Consistent
Consistency is essential. Under no circumstances at any point in your claim should you deviate from the truth. A lot of veterans make the mistake of exaggerating their injuries, mainly because they feel sorry for themselves. It is human nature to exaggerate one’s injuries because they feel a lot worse to the injured person than they might actually be. However, exaggerating your injuries or embellishing aspects of your claim can get you into a lot of trouble and is a surefire way to have any future claims completely thrown out.
If you are caught lying at any point in a claim for disability benefits, you will likely be subject to a fraud investigation. Fraud investigations often result in the investigated parties being arrested and sentenced to a period of imprisonment or receiving a large fine. Make sure you stick to the truth throughout, no matter how you feel. Your attorney will also not be able to help you if your version of events differs from the mainstream narrative of your injuries, i.e., the military’s report.
Understanding Process
Finally, you need to take some time to educate yourself about what the process of making a claim for disability benefits entails. It can be very stressful and often involves physical examinations. Many people who make claims find themselves overwhelmed. A lawyer’s support can be very helpful because a lawyer can take away some of the stress and make it an easier process for you to navigate. Your attorney will be able to support you and explain each step of the process to you.
Another thing about what the disability benefit claim process is like is to get in touch with veterans who have made claims in the past. There are many different internet forums frequented by disabled military veterans that you can use. Make sure when you register an account that you safeguard your identity. A lot of people are very relaxed with their personal data on the Internet nowadays. Adopting a casual attitude to the way that you handle your data can lead to your identity being stolen. Even on forums used by veterans, there are criminals and fraudsters farming information.
Veterans can maximize their financial benefits by taking the guidance given here. If you are interested in learning more about disability claims, get in touch with an attorney. An attorney will be able to guide and advise you, helping you to get through the process with minimal stress.
