Are you a resident of Bellflower, California? Has a disability or illness made it impossible for you to work? If so, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits—SSDI or SSI. Although these benefits can be a huge financial relief to eligible individuals, they are not always easy to qualify for. Before beginning the application process on your own, it is important to consider hiring a qualified Bellflower attorney to help you handle your claim.
Although many claimants get through the Social Security Disability application process without the help of a legal professional, statistics have shown that a Social Security Disability attorney can greatly increase a person’s chances of approval.
This page will outline the benefits of having legal representation and will provide you with the necessary background information to help you make an informed decision about hiring an attorney. More general disability benefit questions should be directed toward your local Social Security office. The office nearest you is located at the following address:
4957 Paramount Blvd
Lakewood, CA 90712
Telephone: 562-867-0597
This Lakewood office is located at the northwest corner of Del Amo Boulevard and Paramount Boulevard in the CVS Shopping Center. Free parking is available. This office will also handle claims from the following areas: Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens, Paramount, and Long Beach.
Hiring an Bellflower Disability Lawyer
As stated, the Social Security Disability application process has proven to be very difficult to navigate. While many people are under the impression that applying for disability benefits is as simple as filling out a form, it is much more involved than that. In addition to filling out the necessary paperwork, applicants are responsible for researching different requirements, collecting many different records, and keeping up with different dates and contacts.
If you find that you cannot handle the pressure or responsibilities that come with filing for disability, it is in your best interest to hire a Bellflower attorney or advocate. Doing so will reduce your work load and take some of the stress off of you.
If you are concerned that you do not have the means to pay for an attorney or advocate, it is important to realize that Social Security Disability lawyers are not paid in the same way as other types of lawyers. Instead of requiring an upfront fee or retainer, a disability attorney will only be paid if their client is awarded benefits. All payment will be agreed upon in advance and if your claim is successful, payment will be deducted from your benefits and will be handled directly by the Social Security Administration.
A Bellflower attorney or advocate will also handle disability claims in the following cities: Lakewood, Artesia, Norwalk, Paramount, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Palma, Santa Fe Springs, Compton, Los Alamitos, Signal Hill, Bell Gardens, Lynwood, and Cypress.
Learn more about hiring a Bellflower Social Security Disability attorney, here or contact your local Bar Association.
Los Angeles County Bar Association
1055 W. 7th Street Suite 2700
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Bellflower Social Security Disability Appeal Hearings
Although it can be beneficial to have an attorney to help with the initial application, many applicants navigate this portion of the application process on their own. However, the process will get much more complicated if your claim proceeds to the appeals phase of the application. At this point, it is highly advisable to hire a lawyer to represent you at your disability appeal hearing.
At an appeal hearing, you will have to explain your employment history, financial status, and health conditions to an Administrative Law Judge—or ALJ. This can be extremely stressful. An attorney or advocate will be able to assist you throughout your appeal hearing and will make sure your claim is presented successfully.
If your appeal hearing has been scheduled but will not take place for several months, it may be in your best interest to speak to your legal representative about “congressional inquiry.” This will involve contacting your local congressperson to request that he or she attempt to have your hearing pushed forward. This will only work if you are experiencing significant financial or medical distress. Your congressperson's office is located at:
17906 Crusader Ave Ste. 100
Cerritos, CA 90703
Telephone: (562) 860-5050
Fax: (562) 924-2914
Bellflower disability appeal hearing often take place in the Los Angeles Downtown hearing office which is approximately 18.8 miles away from Bellflower.
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
Complete the form below to consult with a Social Security Disability attorney or advocate for free:
