If you have recently become afflicted with a health condition that makes it impossible for you to earn a living that will support you and your family, you are probably thinking about applying for Social Security disability benefits. Like the many Americans each year who embark on the process of applying for benefits, your statistical chances of receiving a positive ruling on your case will be significantly greater if you first consult with a licensed attorney.
A Grand Prairie disability attorney can help you traverse the complex process of applying for benefits and convincingly arguing your case.
Grand Prairie, Texas is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and is populated by about 153,800 individuals. Grand Prairie boasts a long history as a western outpost with a varied economy. In the 20th century, the defense and aviation industry became integral to the city’s economy, and while some of that activity has shifted elsewhere, large defense companies still make up the largest employers in the area outside of the local school system.
Grand Prairie serves as the headquarters for several nationally prominent companies.
According to the latest data, there are about 378,720 disabled workers in the state of Texas as a whole. In the last year for which numbers are available, Texas dispensed $379 million to disabled workers and their spouses and children. The average payment to a disabled worker (not to his or her dependents) is $924 in Texas.
In order to receive these benefits, each worker had to first apply to the Social Security Administration, which chooses which people it decides are truly deserving of disability benefits. The requirements for benefits are strict. The first requirement is the presence of a long-term disability that prevents a person from working. The second is that the disability must be expected to last at least 12 months.
Applying for Grand Prairie Social Security Disability Benefits
If a Grand Prairie resident meets these qualifications and, in addition, has earned enough work credits over the course of his or her career, the disabled individual can submit an application for the main program, known as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If the resident finds that he or she has not accrued enough work credits over the course of his or her career, but if he or she can demonstrate a real financial need that exceeds a certain amount, he or she might want to think about the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program instead.
Many people decide to file their initial application by themselves, without the help of an attorney. Yet the hiring of a Grand Prairie Social Security Attorney can improve your chances of acceptance even at this early stage. The fact of the matter is that most people will have their initial application refused, and will have to begin an appeal process that can take as many as four steps.
A Grand Prairie disability lawyer can help make sure that your initial application stands the best possible chance of being approved, and, if it is rejected, can prepare your appeal. He or she will make sure all of the medical records are assembled, that your paperwork is filed within deadlines, and make sure you are adequately prepared to argue your case in court if it comes to that. The appeal process can certainly be lengthy, and yet it requires a strict attention to time limits on the part of the petitioner for benefits. For instance, there is only a 60-day window after the initial disability application is rejected for the individual to prepare and submit an appeal.
Because missing a deadline could be a disaster, it is important to keep on top of these different deadlines. A Grand Prairie disability lawyer will have the know-how to make sure your case is as strong as it possibly can be.
For more on disability benefits in Texas, see our page on How To Qualify For Disability Benefits In Texas.
Hiring a Grand Prairie Disability Attorney
Luckily, the assistance of a Grand Prairie disability attorney does not have to be beyond your means. Your attorney will receive payment only in the event of a positive ruling on your case, in the form of a portion of the back pay you receive. This payment itself is limited by law to no more than 25% of the back payments you win or $6,000, whichever ends up being the lesser value.
A Grand Prairie Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Dallas County, Collin County, Denton County, Rockwall County, Kaufman County, Johnson County, Wise County, Tarrant County, and Ellis County: Mesquite, North Highland City, Hartom City, White Settlement, Garland, Plano, Arlington, Fort Worth, Cockrell Hill, Carrollton, Benbrook, Forest Hill, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Irving, Burleson, Grand Prairie, Lewisville, Mckinney, Farmers Branch, Duncanville, Flower Mound, Colleyville, and Desoto.
