advocate

wagner Asked:

How do you become a advocate for the disabled in iowa ?

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Masterflagger Answered:

Get training. The very first step in becoming a certified disability advocate is to get education in the field. There are several private companies that offer a training kit that you can use at home to become an advocate. While this may be helpful, it's not necessary to purchase such a kit. Other options for training include joining an established company that offers the service and work under them as an advocate.

Step 2
Meet the requirements. The Social Security Administration has a publication called Your Right to Representation, which outlines the specific requirements of becoming a disability advocate. This publication also covers the rights of the person filing for disability insurance, which is information crucial to becoming certified as an advocate.
Step 3
Choose a specialty. Disability advocates have some options when it comes to what type of advocacy to specialize in. Social Security benefits are one area in which there is a strong need for representation. Many times people apply for Social Security benefits but are denied, even though they have a real need for the income. Another area of specialty includes state disability insurance benefits in which an employee can't work due to either a physical or a mental disability.
Step 4
Set up your home office. Being a disability advocate means working out of your home, even if you work for another company. You'll need to make sure you have a place in your home from which to work. Be prepared to use a computer with Internet access, a phone, a fax machine and a copier. There is quite a bit of paperwork involved in working as an advocate; be prepared to organize and manage the case file paperwork on behalf of the client