Each week, millions of dollars are deducted from the paychecks of American workers to fund the Social Security system. A Rio Rancho worker with annual earnings of $30,000 would pay nearly $2,000 per year in Social Security taxes. Most wage earners assume that this ensures they and their families will be provided for in the event they become disabled and unable to work.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Applying for Rio Rancho Social Security Disability Benefits
Applying for Social Security disability benefits is easy, but actually getting approved for disability benefits can be difficult. Even if they are eventually granted benefits, a disabled New Mexico worker may be in for a wait of two years or more from their application date before they actually receive a payment.
This is because very few Social Security disability applications are approved at the first level. Many claimants receive multiple denials before having their application approved. If you’re applying for disability benefits in the Rio Rancho, New Mexico area, hiring a Rio Rancho Social Security attorney can be crucial to getting your initial application, thus avoiding the hassle of filing multiple appeals and the struggle of waiting a year or more before receiving a payment.
Although Rio Rancho has a strong service-industry presence, Intel Corporation’s manufacturing plant is the area’s top employer. Rio Rancho Public Schools and Hewlett-Packard also employ many Rio Rancho residents. The median household income in Rio Rancho is $59,182, and the cost of living is slightly lower than the national average.
Rio Rancho has nearly 89,000 residents and is one of the fastest-growing cities in New Mexico. Approximately 4.9% of New Mexico residents are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits, with an average monthly payment amount of $1,057.
If a disabled Rio Rancho worker files an application for Social Security disability benefits it will take approximately 3-4 months for them to receive a decision on whether or not they’re approved for benefits. Approximately 70% of these applications are denied, nationwide.
If their application is denied, the disabled worker can appeal the denial by filing a “Request for Reconsideration,” and will then have to wait another 2-3 months for a second decision to be issued. Only a small number of claims are approved at the Reconsideration level. If a second denial is received, the disabled worker can then file a “Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge.”
The office that schedules these hearings for Rio Rancho New Mexico Social Security disability applicants is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The average waiting time for a hearing to be scheduled out of this office is 331 days. This doesn't even include the time spent going through the first two stages, and is just the time that the disabled worker was waiting for their hearing to be scheduled. Once the hearing takes place, it can take another two to three months for the judge’s decision to be issued.
Hiring a Rio Rancho Disability Attorney
If you are a disabled worker applying for Social Security disability benefits in Rio Rancho the last thing you want is to have to wait years before receiving any money. That's why you need to hire a Rio Rancho Social Security disability lawyer. A Rio Rancho Social Security disability attorney can ensure that the Social Security Administration has all of the necessary evidence to properly evaluate your claim and reach the appropriate decision.
This increases the chances that your disability claim will be granted at the initial level and can save you the stress and hardship of surviving on little or no income while you wait for your Social Security claim to go through the multiple stages of appeal.
If you do end up having a hearing in front of an administrative law judge, then it's even more important to retain the services of a top Rio Rancho disability attorney. The majority of applicants who are eventually awarded Social Security disability benefits have their applications granted at hearing level. Although success can hinge on many factors including your specific condition(s) and which judge is assigned to your case, a Rio Rancho Social Security lawyer can prepare your claim to be presented in the most favorable way possible. A Social Security attorney knows how to use your medical records and other evidence to show how you meet the Social Security Administration’s specific guidelines for being found disabled.
Unlike many other attorneys, Social Security disability lawyers are paid on a contingent basis. This means that there are no upfront costs to hire a Rio Rancho Social Security attorney. In the event you are awarded benefits, your disability attorney will receive 25% of your back pay, up to a maximum of $6,000. If your application is not approved, your New Mexico disability attorney will not be paid. A Rio Rancho Social Security disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in Santa Fe, McKinley, Arriba, and Bernallilo counties, and nearby cities such as Corrales, Sandia Village, Las Cruces, Paradise Hills, Alameda, Bernalillo, North Valley, and Taylor Ranch.
