Each and every year, millions of people become disabled. Some disabilities develop gradually while others happen in an instant. Regardless of the cause, the outcome is always the same... When an individual suffers from a severe impairment, it usually prevents them from continuing full-time employment activity.
The inability to earn a livelihood can be devastating on both a personal and financial level. Fortunately, in many cases, Social Security Disability benefits can help. However, actually getting disability benefits from the Social Security Administration isn't always as easy as it should be. That is why it is so important to consult with a Fall River Social Security Disability attorney if you are going to be applying for disability benefits in the Fall River area.
It is no secret that Fall River has suffered some serious economic setbacks. However, tides are turning and there are plans in the works to draw new businesses to the area, providing Fall River residents with new jobs and viable sources of income. A new economic advisory committee was created this year.
This advisory is being tasked with the responsibility of examining Fall River's economy and how the city can quickly recover and regrow. Currently, the median household income in Fall River is approximately $33,000. However, that is expected to grow as the city makes the necessary changes for a better and brighter future.
Applying for Fall River Social Security Disability Benefits
The population of Fall River has actually had a downward trend in recent years. There are now less than 90,000 people who call Fall River home. In the State of Massachusetts, approximately 4.5 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits. The average disability payment for a disabled Massachusetts worker is $1,049.30 per month.
While this monthly disability benefit can definitely offset some of the financial strain caused by a disability, the fact is that it will take the average Fall River disability applicant nearly two years before seeing their first payment from the Social Security Administration.
The Social Security Disability claim process can be very overwhelming and complex. If the disability application forms are filled out incorrectly or if you do not provide the right medical evidence to the Social Security Administration, your initial claim for benefits will not be approved. This will result in the need for a disability appeal, which can take well over a year to complete.
Most disability appeals involve a disability hearing. For Fall River disability applicants, it takes approximately one year from the date that this hearing is requested to actually be seen by an administrative law judge. It then takes another two to three months to be notified regarding the outcome of that hearing.
Hiring a Fall River Disability Attorney
When you retain the services of a Fall River Social Security attorney, the professional that you hire will help you prepare your disability claim forms, ensuring that application is filled out properly and in its entirety. Your lawyer will also help ensure that you have provided enough medical evidence to support your claim for disability benefits.
This assistance will ensure that your claim is presented to the SSA in the best light possible. It will also increase your chances of being awarded benefits during the initial stage of the application process, hopefully avoiding the need for a disability appeal.
If, for some reason, your initial application for disability benefits is denied, your Fall River Social Security lawyer can represent you during each stage of the disability appeal process. Statistics show that individuals who have proper representation throughout a disability appeal are more likely to be awarded benefits than applicants who do not. This is why it is important that you contact a Fall River disability attorney as soon as possible.
If you have already filed your Social Security Disability application and that claim has been denied by the Social Security Administration, you need to consult with a Fall River disability lawyer to begin planning your disability appeal. Your attorney will begin working on your appeal with you and will file the first stage of the appeal process, which is called a Request for Reconsideration.
While you can technically file this appeal yourself, you should have an attorney working on your case as early in the game as possible to increase your chance of a successful outcome. Unfortunately, nearly 80 percent of the reconsideration requests that are filed are not granted by the SSA. This means that you will likely need to attend a disability hearing if your initial claim is not granted, and that hearing means waiting a year or more for your disability benefits to begin.
A Fall River disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in cities located the areas of Attleboro, New Bedford, Providence and Taunton.
