Chico, California—located in Butte County—is home to a number of qualified Social Security Disability lawyers. These legal professionals have helped many disabled individuals apply for and receive Social Security Disability benefits. In fact, data recorded in December 2011 suggests that there were 8,885 SSDI recipients and 11,581 SSI recipients living in Butte County.
If you or a loved one cannot maintain employment due to a severe disability or illness, a Chico disability lawyer can help you earn Social Security Disability benefits too. Learn more about the SSDI and SSI programs here or contact your local Social Security office with any unanswered questions you may have. Listed below you will find the contact information for the office nearest Chico:
2035 Forest Ave
Chico, CA 95928
Telephone: 530-345-5199
Hiring a Chico Disability Attorney
Many Social Security Disability applicants enter the application process under the impression that obtaining benefits will be quick and easy. Unfortunately, these individuals are often wrong. Typically, applicants report that the Social Security Disability application process is complicated and overwhelming. That being said, we suggest you get in touch with an experienced Chico disability lawyer.
There are many advantages to having legal representation while applying for disability benefits. Click here to learn more. Or, contact the Butte County Bar Association:
Butte County Bar Association
P.O. Box 3927
Chico, CA 95927
A Chico Social Security attorney will also handle disability claims in nearby Tehama, Glenn, Plumas, and Sierra counties, and towns such as Durham, Hamilton City, Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Orland, Thermalito, and Oroville.
Chico Disability Hearings
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) review of initial disability applications is thorough and stringent. In fact, many applicants are denied during the initial application phase. If you are one of the many individuals who have their initial applications denied, you will be required to request an appeal hearing.
Appeal hearings are held in front of an Administrative Law Judge who decides whether or not an applicant is eligible for benefits. Chico disability appeal hearings are often held at the Sacramento Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). This hearing office currently has a wait time of 313 days and is working to decide 2,374 pending claims.
If your Social Security Disability Claim proceeds to an appeal hearing, the following statistics may be useful while preparing for your hearing. These facts and numbers pertain to the appeal hearings scheduled in the Sacramento ODAR:
- The Sacramento Office of Disability Adjudication and Review had a total of 2,162 hearings scheduled between October 2012 and January 2013.
- Out of these 2,162 scheduled hearings, approximately 84.55% were resolved (approved, denied, or partially approved).
- The Sacramento ODAR is home to 15 administrative law judges who hear disability claims.
- Each judge handled an average of 2.1 dispositions per day between October 2012 and January 2013. During this same time period, the entire Sacramento ODAR handled approximately 31.5 dispositions per day.
- Out of the hearings held between October 2012 and January 2013, 85.01% of the hearings were held in person. The rest were conducted using video conferencing technology.
While these numbers may not be significant to you now, they will come in handy if you find yourself facing an appeal hearing.
Once you have scheduled your appeal hearing, you may have to wait several months before appearing in front of an administrative law judge. If you find you cannot wait, due to financial or health-related distress, your local congressperson may be able to inquire about the status of your claim and possibly have it scheduled sooner. Your local congressperson is located at:
2595 Ceanothus Avenue # 182
Chico, CA 95973-7716
(530) 893-8363
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
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