According to the Social Security Administration (SSA,) 3% of California residents are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits, with an average monthly payment of $1,098. This means that approximately 2,500 San Marcos residents who are unable to work due to an illness or injury and have been granted these benefits.
Unfortunately, because only 30% of applications for Social Security disability benefits are approved, there are likely many more disabled workers in San Marcos whose applications are currently progressing through the SSA’s often-lengthy appeals process.
About San Marcos, California
San Marcos, California, which falls within San Diego County, borders Mexico and is only a 15-minute drive from the shoreline. The most prominent industries in the San Marcos area are manufacturing, retail, and education, and the city’s top employers include Hunter Industries, the United Parcel Service, Kaiser Permanente, and Teamwork Athletic Apparel. San Marcos residents deal with a cost-of-living that is nearly 36% higher than the national average, and the median income for San Marcos households is $45,908.
Applying for San Marcos Social Security Disability Benefits
Studies have shown that being represented by a qualified Social Security disability attorney can increase the chances that a disabled workers’ application for benefits will be approved. Those who are applying for disability benefits in the San Marcos area should strongly consider retaining the services of a San Marcos Social Security disability attorney. Although cost may be a concern, San Marcos Social Security lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that there is no upfront cost to hire one.
A California disability lawyer is only paid if, and when, the claimant that they are representing is granted benefits. Their fee is typically 25% of the amount of “back-benefits” that the claimant receives, and is capped at $6,000. Your back pay is usually determined by your protective filing date.
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
Hiring a San Marcos Disability Attorney
The multiple levels available within the SSA’s appeal process may seem encouraging when your application for Social Security disability benefits is denied, but unfortunately this process is usually lengthy and can be stressful and confusing. A skilled San Marcos disability attorney can assist you with filing the necessary paperwork and can take actions that could increase the chances that your application will be approved.
The SSA has specific requirements that must be met in order for you to be found disabled, and a knowledgeable San Marcos disability attorney knows how to use your medical records and other evidence to show that you meet these requirements.
When a claimant is denied disability, the first appeal (reconsideration) requires that another SSA employee review your file to ensure that the initial decision was appropriate. In most cases, this results in an affirmation of the denial. The next step in the appeals process, the administrative law judge hearing, provides the greatest chance for a disabled worker’s application to be approved. However, the wait for a hearing is usually very long. The SSA office that schedules these hearing for those who are applying for benefits in the San Marcos area is located in San Diego. The average wait for a hearing out of this office is over a year, at 393 days. This means that a San Marcos resident who is unable to work and files an application for Social Security disability benefits could see a wait of two years or more before getting their chance to appear in front of a judge to state their case.
However, disability hearings aren’t as straightforward as simply telling a judge why you should be found disabled. You will often have to answer difficult questions about the nature of your conditions, and the SSA often hires expert witnesses to appear and testify regarding your case. This is why it can be extremely beneficial to be represented by a San Marcos Social Security attorney at the time of your hearing. A California disability lawyer has been to many of these hearings and can prepare you for the types of questions that the judge might ask.
They can also challenge any negative opinions presented by the expert witnesses who testify. Although the chances that your disability claim will be approved are affected by many things, including the details of your specific situation, and even which judge is assigned to your claim, hiring a qualified San Marcos Social Security disability lawyer can only improve the odds that your hearing will result in a favorable outcome. And if it doesn’t, and your claim progresses to one of the last two appeal levels (Appeals Council and an action in Federal Court) it’s absolutely essential to hire a skilled San Marcos Social Security attorney, because at these stages the arguments made generally need to be of a legal nature.
A San Marcos Social Security lawyer will also represent other San Diego county residents, as well as those in Imperial, Orange, and Riverside counties. They can also assist claimants in cities such as Vista, Solana Beach, Oceanside, Poway, Fallbrook, Ramona, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, and La Mesa.
