No one ever wants to consider what would happen if they were suddenly unable to perform their required work responsibilities. Many of us prefer to think that a long-term or permanent disability is an unfortunate event that happens to others and is one that could never affect us in our day-to-day lives. The truth is, however, that disabilities can and do affect anyone. Injuries and illnesses do not care about your social status, your income or your ethnicity. Everyone is at risk of developing a disability. Fortunately, when most of us do suffer from a long-term or permanent disability,
Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income should be there to help ease the financial strain. The problem is, actually obtaining the Social Security Disability benefits that an individual is entitled to isn't always as easy as one would imagine. If you are in need of Social Security Disability benefits in the Ellicott City, Maryland area, the following information will help you understand how the services of an Ellicott City Social Security Disability attorney may help you win your disability case.
The health and insurance sectors play a leading role in Ellicott City’s economy. The city’s top employers include National Institutes of Health and Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters Inc. The unemployment rate of Ellicott City is much lower than the rest of the nation, coming in at only 2.2 percent. The median household income is just above $79,000 and the cost of living index is 21 percent above the national average.
Applying for Ellicott City Social Security Disability Benefits
Ellicott City is home to more than 56,000 residents. In the State of Maryland, approximately 3.1 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits. Maryland Social Security Disability recipients receive an average monthly disability payment of $1,093.70.
While it is true that this monthly benefit amount can help offset some of the financial stress that can be caused by a disabling condition, many disability applicants are surprised to discover that it takes the average Ellicott City Social Security Disability applicant more than two years from the date they file their initial disability claim before seeing their first payment from the Social Security Administration.
Why does it take so long for an Ellicott City Social Security Disability applicant to complete the disability claim process? The lengthy processing times are largely due to the fact that the SSA denies the majority of the claims that it receives each year. This results in the need for a disability appeal, which usually consists of a Request for Reconsideration and a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. It is the hearing stage of the appeal process that causes Ellicott City disability applicants to wait so long before receiving the disability benefits that they are entitled to.
When a disability applicant files an appeal to overturn the SSA's decision to deny their disability claim, that applicant's local Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) must schedule a disability hearing in front of an ALJ. It takes the office that is in charge of scheduling hearings for Ellicott City Social Security Disability applicants, the Baltimore ODAR office, an average of 452 days to schedule such a hearing.
Hiring an Ellicott City Social Security Attorney
If you want to increase your chances of being approved for disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process, thereby avoiding the need for a disability appeal and a hearing before a judge, the services of an Ellicott City Social Security Disability lawyer may be the answer.
While many disability applicants do not consider hiring an attorney until their claim for disability benefits has been denied, doing so can mean the difference between an approval and a denial of your initial disability claim. Your Ellicott City Social Security attorney can go over your disability case with you, helping you gather the evidence that will be needed in order to prove your disability to the adjudicator who will be reviewing your file. Your attorney will also help you prepare your application in such a way that it has the best chance for approval during the initial stage of the application process.
If your initial application for SSD benefits is still denied, your Ellicott City disability attorney will be able to represent you through each stage of your disability appeal. He or she will begin to gather additional evidence to submit to the administrative law judge who will be hearing your case. Your Ellicott City disability lawyer may also retain expert witnesses to testify on your behalf regarding the severity of your disability and your inability to perform any type of work activity.
Fortunately, the odds will be in your favor when you attend your disability hearing with proper legal representation. Nearly two-thirds of disability hearings are decided in the favor of the disability applicant.
