Thousands of Largo, Florida residents pay Social Security taxes. These taxes are taken directly from each paycheck that a Largo worker. Because these workers dutifully pay into this program, they assume that Social Security Disability benefits will be there for them if they should ever need them. Unfortunately, obtaining Social Security Disability benefits isn’t always easy.
In fact, it’s usually a long and drawn-out battle against the Social Security Administration. The fact of the matter is that nearly 70 percent of the initial claims that are received by the Social Security Administration each year are denied by the adjudicators who review the applications. What happens when Largo applicants are denied disability? If they hope to receive benefits in the future, they must pursue the lengthy disability appeal process.
Unfortunately, this process can take Largo disability applicants more than two years to complete. This leaves many applicants wondering if anything can be done to increase their chances of being approved for Social Security Disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process. Fortunately, in many cases, the services of a Largo Social Security Disability attorney can help.
The economy of Largo benefits from diversity. The technology, data processing, government, health, education and marketing sectors all play vital roles in the economic well-being of the city. Some of Largo’s largest employers include Tech Data, Special Data Processing, the City of Largo, Largo Medical Center, Pinellas County Schools, Sun Coast Hospital and SCC Soft Computer. The median household income in Large is approximately $36,000 per year while the cost of living index comes in at approximately 6 percent below the national average.
Applying for Largo Social Security Disability Benefits
Largo, Florida is home to approximately 73,000 residents. It can take more than two years for a Largo, Florida Social Security Disability applicant to complete the disability claim and appeal process. While the initial application process only takes three to six months to complete, only about 30 percent of applications are approved during the initial stage of the application process.
As stated before, the remaining 70 percent of applicants must file an appeal in order to be approved for Social Security Disability payments in the future. This means obtaining a hearing before an administrative law judge. Because these judges have such a large backlog of cases, it takes Largo residents approximately 11 months to obtain a hearing from the date of their hearing request. This does not mean it takes 11 months from the date of an applicant’s initial claim to get a hearing. This means it takes 11 months from the time that the initial application and the request for reconsideration process have been completed.
Since many applicants are already one year or more into the process by the time these two stages are complete, this means that it will be two years from the time of a claimant’s initial application before they even see an administrative law judge. It then takes another two to three months after the date of the hearing to be notified regarding the hearing outcome.
When an applicant has to wait more than two years to have their case heard before an administrative law judge, it is crucial that everything go perfectly when that day arrives. The last thing you want to do is wait a period of approximately two years, only to have your disability benefits denied due to a mistake that you make during the hearing process. This is why hiring a Largo Social Security attorney is crucial to the success of your disability case.
Hiring a Largo Disability Attorney
What exactly can a Largo Social Security lawyer do to help you in your disability case? A knowledgeable Largo disability attorney can help you gather the information that will be needed to file a successful claim for disability benefits and this professional will help you present your application to the Social Security Administration in the best light possible, increasing your chances of a favorable decision during the initial application process.
This can save you years of frustration by helping you avoid the need for a disability appeal. If your initial application for disability benefits is denied by the Social Security Administration, a Largo disability lawyer can help you file a successful Social Security Disability appeal, increasing your chances of overturning the SSA’s decision to deny your disability benefits. It is important to note that applicants who have proper legal representation are statistically more likely to be awarded benefits than applicants who try to represent themselves through this complex and stressful process.
For more on qualifying for disability benefits in Florida, see How To Qualify For Disability In Florida.
