Many people understand that Social Security Disability benefits are there to help them should they ever suffer from a long-term or permanent disability that prevents them from taking part in activities of daily living. What these individuals do not often realize is just how complicated the Social Security Disability claim process is or how long it will take before they ever see their first disability payment. If you are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income in the Hemet, California area and you think that your claim will be approved in just a few short months, you may want to think again. The majority of Hemet disability applicants must nearly two years before ever seeing their first disability payment. Fortunately, the services of a Hemet, California Social Security Disability can increase your chances of receiving benefits sooner and may help you avoid the headache and complication of a disability appeal.
Hemet benefits from a diverse economy. The education, health, retail and government sectors play a large role in the economic well-being of the city. Some of Hemet’s top employers include Hemet Unified School District, Valley Health System, Wal-mart, the City of Hemet and Ramona VNA & Hospice. The median household income in Hemet is just over $31,000, which is below the national average. The cost of living, however, is above the national average coming in at approximately 22 percent above the U.S. average.
Applying for Hemet Social Security Disability Benefits
Hemet is home to nearly 59,000 California residents. In the State of California, approximately 2.9 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits with an average monthly benefit amount of $1,083.80 per month. While disabled Hemet workers can definitely be helped by this monthly benefit payment, the time that it takes to actually begin receiving disability benefits is anything but acceptable for many Hemet residents. This is due to the fact that it will take the average Hemet disability applicant a total of nearly two years to complete the Social Security Disability claim process.
Many people do not understand why it takes more than two years for the average disability applicant in Hemet to see their first disability payment. While the initial application process for Social Security Disability benefits only takes three to four months to complete, nearly 70 percent of disability claims are denied by the SSA during the initial stage of the application process. These applicants must then pursue a disability appeal in order to obtain the benefits they may be entitled to.
When an applicant pursues a disability appeal, there are usually two stages involved. These stages include a Request for Reconsideration and a disability hearing before an administrative law judge. It is the hearing stage of the appeal process that results in the significant processing times for disability appeals. These hearings are scheduled by ODAR offices (Office of Disability Adjudication and Review) and the significant number of appeals that these offices have to process has resulted in an extraordinary backlog of disability hearings. The ODAR office in charge of processing the disability hearings for Hemet applicants is located in San Bernardino. It takes this office an average of 393 days just to schedule a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
Hiring a Hemet Disability Attorney
What many people don't realize is just how significant a 393-day wait for a hearing can be. By the time a Social Security Disability applicant requests such a hearing, they are already six months to one year into the claim process. Waiting an additional 393 days for a hearing can wreak financial havoc on a disabled worker, not to mention the fact that it takes another three to six months after the hearing for an applicant to be notified of the hearing outcome. Fortunately, the services of a Hemet Social Security Disability lawyer may be able to help.
When you retain the services of a Hemet Social Security attorney, your lawyer will review your disability claim with you. He or she will point out any weak spots in your claim and will help you gather the evidence that you will need in order to prove your case to the Social Security Administration. Your Hemet Social Security lawyer will also be able to help you prepare your application paperwork, ensuring that the file is submitted properly and in the best light possible to the Social Security Administration.
If, for some reason, your application for disability benefits is still denied, your Hemet Social Security Disability lawyer will be able to represent you through all stages of the disability appeal process, increasing your chances of a favorable outcome. Statistics show that applicants who retain proper legal representation for a disability appeal are more likely to be awarded benefits than applicants who choose to represent themselves.
Fortunately, the services of a Hemet Social Security attorney do not have to be cost prohibitive. These professionals work on a contingency basis, collecting 25 percent of the back pay that you are awarded by the Social Security Administration (up to a maximum of $6,000). If you do not win your disability case, your lawyer does not collect a fee.
