Many of the hard-working Texas residents who live and work in the City of Mission know that taxes are taken out of each paycheck they receive. These residents understand that a portion of these taxes go to the state and to the federal government. They also know that a portion goes to the Social Security system to pay for disability and retirement benefits.
Because of this, most Mission, Texas workers don’t generally worry about getting the Social Security Disability benefits that they have paid for when they develop a disabling condition. The problem is, when these disabled workers decide to file a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, they often find that cashing in on these benefits isn't as easy they had thought it would be.
The truth is, many Mission, Texas residents are denied benefits when they first apply for Social Security Disability. Because of this, if you are in need of Social Security Disability benefits in the Mission, Texas area, you may want to consider consulting with a Mission Social Security Disability attorney before you even consider submitting your initial disability application.
Mission, Texas has a diverse and flourishing economy. Agriculture plays a large role in the city’s economic well being and the area is known for the growth of its grapefruits. In fact, the town has been known as the “Home of the Ruby Red Grapefruit” since the beginning of the 1920s.
The government, medical and retail sectors also play a large role in the area’s economic climate. Some of Mission’s largest employers include Mission Regional Medical Center, T-Mobile, Wal-Mart and H.E.B. Grocery. The median household income for Mission, Texas is approximately $30,000 per year while the cost of living index is 22 percent lower than the national average.
Applying for Mission Social Security Disability Benefits
Mission is home to approximately 77,000 Texas residents. In the State of Texas, approximately 3.4 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits. The average payment that a disabled Texas worker receives from the Social Security Administration is $1,050.30 per month.
While this monthly disability payment can help a disabled Texas worker offset some of the financial strain that can be caused by a long-term or permanent disability, the truth is that it will take most Mission disability applicants between one to two years before seeing their first disability payment from the Social Security Administration.
Why does it take so long for Mission Social Security Disability applicants to begin receiving disability payments when the initial application process should only take three to six months to complete? The extensive processing times are due to the fact that the majority of Mission disability claims are denied by the Social Security Administration during the initial stage of the application process. These denied applicants must then add their appeal to the already-extensive backlog of appeals currently held up in the Social Security system.
When a Mission disability applicant appeals a denied disability claim, they usually have to attend a disability hearing in order to overturn the SSA's decision to deny their disability benefits. ODAR offices (Office of Adjudication and Review) are the offices in charge of scheduling these hearings.
The ODAR office that is in charge of scheduling the disability hearings for Mission disability applicants is located in Fort Worth. It takes this office an average of 253 days to schedule a disability hearing for a disability applicant. Once that hearing has been conducted, it takes a Mission disability applicant another two to three months to be notified regarding the outcome of that hearing.
When you combine the three to six months that it takes to complete the initial application process, the three to six months that it takes to complete the reconsideration request and the 253 days that it takes to obtain a disability hearing with the two to three month wait time for a disability hearing outcome, it becomes evident that it takes many Mission disability applicants approximately two years to see their first check from the Social Security Administration (if they ever see payment at all).
For more on disability benefits in Texas, see our page on How To Qualify For Disability Benefits In Texas.
Hiring a Mission Disability Attorney
If you want to avoid the need for a disability hearing and wish to have your disability benefits approved in a matter of months rather than a matter of years, your best bet is to work with a Mission Social Security Disability lawyer. These professionals can help you in the preparation of your Social Security Disability claim, ensuring that you fill out all of your application paperwork properly and that you provide the SSA with the medical evidence that will be needed to prove your disability to the adjudicator who will be reviewing your disability file.
If, for some reason, your application for benefits is denied, a Mission Social Security lawyer can represent you through each stage of your disability appeal, increasing your chances of successfully overturning the SSA's decision to deny your Social Security Disability benefits.
