Residents of Phoenix (Maricopa County) have a number of Social Security Disability attorneys and advocates available to help them file for disability benefits. With the assistance of a Phoenix attorney, you may be able to avoid long wait times to receive a decision on your claim much sooner.
Phoenix is home to two hearing offices—The Phoenix Hearing Office and the Phoenix North Hearing office. Currently in the Phoenix Hearing Office there are 3,806 pending cases and the wait time is 370 days. In the Phoenix North Hearing Office there are 2,485 pending cases and has a wait time of 306 days. Although the wait for disability benefits is long, many Phoenix residents find the wait worthwhile. Data collected in December, 2011 indicates that there were 79,775 individuals in Maricopa County receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and 56,702 receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Click here for more information on the different Social Security Disability programs.
Phoenix residents can fill out an application online or in person, depending on his or her preference. To apply in person, applicants must schedule an appointment with their local SSA office. Below is the contact information for your local office:
16241 N Tatum Blvd
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Telephone: 1-800-772-1213
Consulting with a Phoenix Social Security Disability Attorney
Applying for Social Security Disability can be long and complicated. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the process, you should consider contacting a Social Security Disability lawyer to help you file your claim. A lawyer will be able to offer you professional advice that will ultimately increase your chances of receiving benefits. To learn about the many benefits of having a lawyer on your side, click here.
A Phoenix Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Maricopa County, Pima County, Pinal County, Santa Cruz County, La Paz County, Yuma County, Mojave County, Yavapai County, and Gila County: Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, Queen Creek, Sun Lakes, Avondale, Glendale, Prescott, Goodyear, Congress, Nothing, Salome, Lake Montezuma, Casa Grande, Coolidge, Maricopa, Sacaton, Cave Creek, New River, Central Heights Midland City, Camp Verde, Chino Valley, Show Low, Lake Havasu City, and Fountain Hills. Contact your local Bar Association to learn about the qualified attorney’s in your area:
Maricopa County Bar Association
303 E. Palm Lane,
Phoenix, AZ 85004-1532
Phoenix Disability Hearings
If your initial claim and “Request for Reconsideration” are both denied, you will have to request a hearing to be held at the Phoenix Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR)—if you wish to continue seeking disability benefits. Below is a list of the approval rates for the administrative law judges who hear cases in both the Phoenix Hearing Office and the Phoenix North Hearing office.
Phoenix Hearing Office:
| ALJ | Approval Rate |
| Aalegre, Dante M. | 3.23% |
| Atchison, Paula F. | 30.16% |
| Fletcher, Guy E. | 51.98% |
| Gaffney, John | 43.00% |
| Schum, Randolph E. | 8.88% |
| Tucevich, Michael D. | 43.78% |
| Waters, Carla L. | 40.83% |
| Zamora, Christa | 42.78% |
| Zisook, Sheldon P. | 35.38% |
Phoenix North Hearing Office:
| ALJ | Approval Rate |
| Armbruster, Ted W. | 40.69% |
| Bucci, Patricia A. | 28.25% |
| Cates, Jr., Earl C. | 45.00% |
| Chen, Tin Tin | 48.50%% |
| Farmer, Lyn. | 48.12% |
| Gavras, Chris L. | 71.60% |
| Mucerino, Kathleen | 56.65% |
| Rosen-Underwood, Claudi L. | 39.39%/td> |
| Walls, Kelly | 47.60% |
*Data from http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html
Often times, Phoenix Social Security Disability Lawyers are familiar with the judges who hear cases in the local hearing office. They can use this information to prepare your case more effectively.
Unfortunately, it can take a long time for hearings to be scheduled. If you are experiencing extreme medical or financial distress, you should consider contacting your local congressman to request that he speak to the ODAR on your behalf. /p>
To receive a free evaluation from a Phoenix Social Security Disability attorney, fill out the form below:
