Newport Beach residents who are familiar with seeing weekly Social Security tax deductions from their paycheck may feel comforted knowing that these benefits will be available in the event they become unable to work due to a disability.
What most California workers don’t realize is that the large majority (over 70%) of Social Security applications are denied. These applicants are then forced to go through a lengthy appeal process in hopes of getting granted benefits, which often results in a wait of two years or more.
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California is a coastal town consisting of nearly 53 square-miles in Orange County California. Overall, it’s very affluent, with a median household income of nearly $100,000 and the average home costing around $1 million. Its large beach harbor makes it a popular spot for water recreation, and it also has a strong healthcare and scientific industry presence. Many Newport Beach residents are employed at Hoag Memorial Hospital, Pacific Life, US Bank, and Guidewell Dental.
While their high-income may mean that Newport Beach residents have more savings and investments to fall back on if they’re unable to work, they’re also likely facing much higher mortgage and other payments. This can make it very difficult for them to live on little or no income while going through the process of applying for Social Security disability benefits. Some people are granted presumptive disability payments because they have a condition that can be assumed will be approved for benefits.
When the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies a disabled Newport Beach worker’s application for benefits, they can file a “Request for Reconsideration.” This results in a different SSA representative reviewing their claim to confirm that the denial was appropriate. It can take another 2-4 months for this decision to be made. It can be stressful for a disabled worker to support their family on little or no income while their application is pending.
Hiring a qualified Newport Beach Social Security attorney can improve the chances that your application will be approved and you won’t be forced to undergo this appeals process. A top Newport Beach disability lawyer can make sure that all relevant medical records and other evidence are being fairly considered, and can also assist you with paperwork and filing any necessary appeals, as well as answering your questions along the way.
Applying for Newport Beach Social Security Disability Benefits
Approximately 85,000 people call Newport Beach home. About 3% of the California population is receiving Social Security disability benefits, with an average monthly payment amount of $1,098. Many of these individuals likely waited two years or more from their initial application for their benefits to be granted.
If a Newport Beach Social Security disability applicant’s “Request for Reconsideration” results in another denial, then the disabled worker will file a “Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge.” The Social Security office in Santa Ana, California, schedules administrative law judge hearings for disability applicants in the Newport Beach area.
A disabled Newport Beach worker waits an average of 353 days for their hearing to be scheduled. This is from the date that they filed their “Request for Administrative Law Judge Hearing,” appeal, and is in addition to the 5-8 months they were forced to wait while their claim went through the first two stages of the Social Security disability application process.
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
Hiring a Newport Beach Disability Attorney
If you’re applying for disability benefits in the Newport Beach area, it can be devastating to have to wait years before receiving a payment. Hiring an experienced Newport Beach Social Security disability attorney can decrease the chances of that happening. If you do end up having an administrative law judge hearing, a knowledgeable disability attorney can use your medical records to show the judge exactly how you meet the Social Security Administration’s specific definition of disabled.
There are no guarantees when it comes to the results of your hearing, and your success hinges on many factors including your specific conditions and which judge is assigned to your claim, but hiring a Newport Beach Social Security disability lawyer can be an effective way to ensure that all relevant evidence is being considered, and can maximize the odds that the judge’s decision will be in your favor.
A Newport Beach disability attorney works on a contingent fee basis. This means that your Newport Beach Social Security lawyer is only paid if you are granted benefits. If your application is approved, they will receive a fee equal to 25% of your back benefit payments, up to a $6,000 maximum. So there’s no upfront cost to hire a Newport Beach Social Security attorney, and no reason for Newport Beach, California Social Security disability applicants not to take this important action that can be a great benefit to their claim.
A Newport Beach Social Security attorney will also handle disability claims in Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach, Orange, Foothills, and Seal Beach. In addition, they will represent other Orange County residents and those in neighboring Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties.
