If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits, it helps to have an idea of what the process looks like before you start. While you can learn a lot about it simply by reading, it’s better to have a North Las Vegas Social Security lawyer explain the process to you, taking the particulars of your individual case into consideration.
Many people apply for disability benefits without the aid of a North Las Vegas Social Security Disability lawyer. Unless you are thoroughly familiar with the laws, regulations, and processes pertaining to the Social Security Administration, however, you will be much better off having a professional North Las Vegas disability lawyer helping you with your claim.
Applying for North Las Vegas Social Security Disability Benefits
Many people don’t realize that a North Las Vegas Social Security Disability lawyer will not charge you unless you collect your disability benefits. Typically, your North Las Vegas disability attorney will collect about a quarter of the back pay you receive, not to exceed $6,000. If your claim is ultimately denied, your North Las Vegas disability lawyer won’t collect on your case.
North Las Vegas is the third largest community in Nevada. Located north of the more famous Las Vegas, many North Las Vegas residents commute to work in Las Vegas. A significant percentage of the population works in the gaming, hotel, tourism and entertainment industries.
North Las Vegas also has its own share of industry, with the airport and a women’s prison being the two largest employers in the city. The city also hosts Nellis Air Force Base. As with most military communities, the economy of North Las Vegas is impacted greatly by the presence of the base.
Nearly a quarter of the North Las Vegas working age population has a disability of one sort or another. Of course, many with disabilities are able to continue working in some capacity (including more than half in North Las Vegas). But for those who can’t, being able to quickly work their way through the seemingly endless string of appeals comes much easier with the help of a North Las Vegas Social Security lawyer.
If you are facing a long-term disability, you should make the best use possible of the resources you have. While a North Las Vegas disability attorney can reduce the amount of time it takes for your claim to be accepted, the average disability claim still takes considerably more than a year before it is accepted and the claimant begins to collect back pay and ongoing disability benefit payments.
In over two-thirds of cases, the initial application for disability benefits is denied. This is because, in order to approve your claim, the SSA must be able to recognize that you have a condition which makes it impossible for you to do any of the work which you have performed in the past. They will also consider your education level and any other pertinent experience which might cause you to be considered capable of finding and maintaining gainful employment in another occupation.
In general, your claim will only be accepted if the SSA can determine, solely from your claim and the accompanying medical reports, that you are completely disabled and incapable of performing any work for which you might reasonably be trained.
Hiring a North Las Vegas Disability Attorney
If and when your initial claim is denied, your North Las Vegas Social Security Disability attorney can help you determine why it was rejected so that you can make whatever modifications are deemed necessary to win your appeal. The next thing your North Las Vegas disability attorney will have you do is file your Request for Reconsideration.
Usually, this will also be denied unless there is new evidence to consider. Changes in your medical condition is the kind of new evidence that can cause your reconsideration to be approved. So, be sure to follow up with a doctor regularly. If you cannot afford a private doctor, check out these North Las Vegas SSD Medical Resources.
After your claim has been denied twice, your North Las Vegas Social Security attorney will have you request a hearing. Your hearing represents your best chance to have your disability claim accepted. It is the only stage in the process (other than federal court) in which you and your North Las Vegas Social Security Disability lawyer will be able to present your case before an Administrative Law Judge.
Because the hearing represents your best chance to have your claim accepted, you will want to make sure that you have a North Las Vegas disability lawyer representing you. Not only do you stand a better chance of winning your appeal with a North Las Vegas disability lawyer’s help, but your North Las Vegas Social Security Disability lawyer will already be familiar with your case in the event that your claim needs to be taken to the Appeals Council; An appeals council review can be requested by filling out form HA-520.
