There are thousands of hard-working taxpayers living in Redwood City, California. Each time one of these worker receives a paycheck, a portion of the check goes to the Social Security Administration. It is not unreasonable for these workers to assume that Social Security Disability benefits will be there for them if they should ever need them.
However, actually obtaining disability benefits from the Social Security Administration is often a struggle that these disabled workers aren’t equipped to deal with. This is why the majority of Social Security Disability claims (nearly 70 percent) are denied by the SSA during the initial stage of the application process.
If you live in the Redwood City area and are thinking about applying for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, you should consider the services of a qualified Redwood City Social Security Disability attorney because they are up to date with all current Social Security Rulings and can help you win your case.
The economy of Redwood City flourishes thanks to a diverse economy. The high-tech, government, medical and education sectors play leading roles in the city’s economic well-being. Some of Redwood City’s largest employers include Oracle, Electronic Arts, San Mateo County, Kaiser Permanente, Sequoia Hospital, PDI/Dreamworks and Stanford Hospital and Clinics. The median household income in Redwood City is approximately $68,000 per year. The cost of living index in Redwood City, however, is very high when compared to the rest of the United States, coming in at more than 50 percent higher than the national average.
Applying for Redwood City Social Security Disability Benefits
Redwood City is home to more than 75,000 California residents. In the State of California, approximately 2.9 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income from the Social Security Administration. 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 is caused by an inability to work due to a disability, most Redwood City Social Security Disability applicants must wait two years or more before seeing a single payment from the Social Security Administration.
Why does it take so long for most Redwood City disability applicants to begin receiving Social Security Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration? 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. The applicants who are denied must then pursue a lengthy and drawn out disability appeal in order to obtain the benefits they need.
This appeal normally consists of a Request for Reconsideration and a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Unfortunately, in Redwood City, the wait time for such a hearing is approximately 419 days, not including the time it takes for the initial disability application and the request for reconsideration.
The social security office that is in charge of scheduling the hearings for Redwood City disability applicants is known as the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). The ODAR office for Redwood City residents is located in San Jose, California. After the disability hearing has been conducted, it takes another two or three months before the applicant is notified regarding the outcome of the hearing.
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
Hiring a Redwood City Disability Attorney
When you consider the fact that the initial disability claim process takes three to six months to complete and the Request for Reconsideration takes another three to six months to process, that means that many disability applicants are already six months or one year into the disability claim process before they even request a disability hearing.
Waiting another 419 days for a disability hearing and another two to three months for a hearing outcome can cause significant financial strain. Because of this, many Redwood City Social Security Disability applicants wonder if there is any way to avoid the need for a disability appeal.
Fortunately, in many cases, the services of a qualified Redwood City Social Security attorney can help increase your chances of being awarded benefits during the initial stage of the disability application process. This means that you can begin receiving benefits in a matter of months rather than waiting two years or more before seeing your first disability payment.
When you hire a Redwood City Social Security lawyer to help you in your disability claim, he or she will go over your disability case with you. Your lawyer will also help you fill out the application paperwork properly and will ensure that you have all of the documented medical evidence that you need in order to prove your case to the Social Security Administration. If, for some reason, your disability claim is still denied, your Redwood City disability attorney can represent you during each stage of your disability appeal.
