This year alone more than three million disabled Americans are expected to submit claims to the Social Security Administration for Social Security Disability benefits. Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of these claims will be denied during the initial stage of the application process. What does this mean for the millions of Americans whose applications will be rejected?
It means that they will have to endure a lengthy and stressful disability appeal if they ever hope to obtain the disability benefits they so desperately need. If you live in the Quincy area and are considering a claim for Social Security Disability payments, you may want to retain the services of a Quincy Social Security Disability attorney prior to beginning your Social Security Disability claim.
Quincy is enjoying a flourishing economy, with an unemployment rate of less than 9 percent and future job growth expected to be at nearly 25 percent. In its past, Quincy was known for its manufacturing and heavy industry sectors. The granite and quarrying industries were the flagship of Quincy's economy. However, recent years have seen a shift in the city's economic center as the financial services, insurance and health care sectors have gained increasing importance of the area's economic well-being.
Many corporate headquarters make their home in Quincy including popular names like Boston Financial Data Services, Arbella Mutual Insurance Company, Stop & Shop supermarkets and The Patriot Ledger. Other employers that contribute to Quincy's job market and economy include Blue Cross Blue Shield, State Street Corporation, Boston Scientific and Cape Verde airline.
Applying for Quincy Social Security Disability Benefits
Quincy is home to approximately 93,000 Massachusetts residents. In the State of Massachusetts, approximately 4.5 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits. The average monthly benefit amount for a Massachusetts Social Security Disability applicant is $1,049.30 per month. While this monthly disability payment can definitely help offset the financial burden caused by a disabling condition, it takes the average Quincy applicant approximately 387 days to complete the disability claim process.
Why does it take so long for a Quincy Social Security Disability applicant to begin receiving payments from the Social Security Administration when the initial application process only takes three to six months to complete? The extensive wait times are due to the fact that the majority of disability claims are denied by the SSA during the initial stage of the application process. Because of this, most Quincy Social Security Disability applicants must pursue a disability appeal in order to obtain the payments they may be entitled to.
Unfortunately, the severe backlog of disability cases that are currently under appeal has resulted in a waiting period of more than one year for the scheduling of a disability hearing before an administrative law judge. Fortunately, hiring a Quincy Social Security Disability lawyer can increase your chances of filing a successful disability claim or, if necessary, successfully appealing the SSA's decision to deny your claim for Social Security Disability benefits.
Hiring a Quincy Disability Attorney
The majority of Quincy Social Security Disability applicants do not hire a Quincy Social Security attorney to help them with the initial stage of the application process. These applicants wait for the appeal stage of their disability claim before seeking out legal counsel. What many of these people don't realize is that a Quincy Social Security lawyer can help them obtain disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process, thereby avoiding the need for a disability appeal altogether.
Your Quincy disability attorney can help you prepare your disability application prior to submitting the application to the SSA. Your attorney will help you gather the medical evidence that will be needed to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration and will ensure that all of your claim forms are filled out properly.
Your attorney will also help you submit your claim, presenting it to the Social Security Administration in the best light possible. If your application for disability benefits is still denied despite the efforts of your attorney, your Quincy disability lawyer can represent you during your disability appeal.
The Social Security Disability appeal process is a lengthy and complicated one. A Quincy Social Security Disability attorney can help you through this process and will prepare your case for a hearing before an administrative law judge. While nearly two-thirds of disability claimants will win their case at the hearing stage of the appeal process, your chances of a successful hearing outcome are greatly increased with proper legal representation.
Once you retain a Quincy Social Security Disability lawyer, your attorney will begin to gather all of the medical evidence that will be needed to support your claim for disability benefits. If enough medical evidence is not available, your lawyer may ask that you go for further medical testing and may even retain expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. Your Quincy Social Security attorney may also advise you as to what you should expect at your disability hearing and how you should present yourself before the administrative law judge who will be presiding over your case.
If you are concerned about the cost of hiring a Quincy Social Security attorney, you will be pleased to know that these professionals work on a contingency basis, collecting only 25 percent of the back payment that you are awarded by the Social Security Administration (up to a limit of $6,000). If your case is denied by the disability examiner or the ALJ, you do not pay your lawyer a fee.
