Each time a hard-working American citizen receives a paycheck, taxes are subtracted from it and added to Social Security. Because these workers pay into this system, they assume that these benefits will be there for them when they need them. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration does not make it easy to collect these benefits. When a worker suffers from a long-term disability, they are often faced with a tiresome and stressful battle against the SSA so they can receive the Social Security Disability benefits they are entitled to. If you are applying for disability benefits in the Redding, California area, a Redding Social Security Disability attorney may be crucial to winning your Social Security Disability case.
The economy of Redding benefits from a diversity with the government, educational, health and retail sectors playing a significant role in the economic well-being of the area. Some of Redding's top employers include Wal-Mart, Shasta County, Mercy Medical Center, the City of Redding, Blue Shield of California and Shasta College. The median household income in the city is $45,830, although the cost of living is approximately 44 percent higher than the national average.
Applying for Redding Social Security Disability Benefits
Redding is home to nearly 90,000 California residents. In the State of California, approximately 2.9 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. The average disability payment received by a disabled California worker is $1,083.80 per month. While this monthly benefit can significantly offset some of the financial stress that can be caused by a disability, what many people don't realize is that most Redding disabiliy applicants will wait well over a year before receiving their first payment from the Social Security Administration.
Why does it take Redding, California Social Security Disability applicants so long to receive their first disability payment when the initial application process is only supposed to take three to six months? The unreasonable waiting periods are due to the fact that the SSA denies approximately 70 percent of the claims that are received each year. These applicants who are denied benefits must then pursue a Social Security Disability appeal. This appeal process usually consists of a Request for Reconsideration and a Disability Hearing before an administrative law judge.
The office that is in charge of scheduling the hearings for Redding, California Social Security Disability applicants is located in Sacramento. On average, it takes this office approximately 337 days to schedule a disability hearing. This time frame does not include the amount of time that it takes the applicant to file their initial disability claim or to pursue a Request for Reconsideration. To make matters worse, once a hearing has been scheduled and conducted, it still takes an applicant another two to three months to be notified regarding the outcome of the hearing.
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
Hiring a Redding Disability Attorney
If you want to avoid the frustration of pursing a disability appeal, you need to retain the services of a qualified Redding Social Security Disability lawyer. These professionals can help you prepare your disability claim properly, gathering all of the necessary medical evidence, and ensure that your claim is submitted to the SSA in the best light possible. This will increase your chances of receiving an approval at the initial stage of the application process, thereby reducing the chance that you'll have to endure the disability appeal process.
If you do have to pursue a disability appeal, do not give up hope. The good news is that nearly two-thirds of disability hearings are decided in the favor of the disability applicant. However, your specific chances of winning your appeal will vary on a number of factors including your hearing strategy and the administrative law judge who is assigned to your disability case. Some judges have higher award ratios than others. Because nothing is ever guaranteed during the appeal process, you need to do everything you can to tip the scales in your favor. That means retaining representation from a qualified Redding Social Security attorney.
Fortunately, a Redding disability attorney does not have to cost an arm and a leg. These professionals work on a contingency basis, collecting 25 percent of the back pay that you are awarded by the Social Security Administration, up to a maximum amount of $6,000. If you do not win your case, your lawyer does not get paid.
A Redding will also handle disability claims in cities located in Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Trinity and Siskiyou counties including the cities of Auburn, Chico, Feather River, Oroville, Placerville, Redding, Roseville, Sacramento and Susanville.
Simply fill out the form for a free case evaluation if you would like learn more about hiring a Redding disability lawyer to represent you in your Social Security Disability case.
