Every year millions of disabled Americans submit Social Security Disability claims to the Social Security Administration. It is estimated that the SSA will receive more than three million disability applications this year alone. The disabled citizens who file for Social Security Disability benefits are usually facing severe financial hardships.
They are unable to work, which means no income and no medical insurance. Disability-related medical bills only add to the problem. As the bills begin to pile up, these people hope that Social Security Disability benefits will help them make ends meet. Unfortunately, these benefits usually do not arrive in a timely manner, and definitely not in time to save the day.
In fact, an overwhelming 70 percent of disability applicants are denied benefits during the initial stage of the application process. What can you do to increase your chances of receiving the Social Security Disability benefits you need? If you live in the Santa Clara, California area, you should consider retaining the services of a qualified Santa Clara Social Security Disability attorney.
About Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara's economy flourishes from diversity, with a heavy influence in the technology sector. Trident Microsystems, OmniVision Technologies and Nvidia are all headquartered within the city limits. Some of the top employers in Santa Clara are Intel, Oracle, National Semiconductor and Agilent Technologies. The median household income for Santa Clara is more than $82,000, which is well above the national average.
Applying for Santa Clara Social Security Disability Benefits
Santa Clara is home to more than 112,000 California residents. In the State of California, approximately 2.9 percent of residents receive Social Security Disability benefits. The average disability payment to California disability recipients is $1,083.80. Many disabled Santa Clara workers rely on this monthly benefit to make ends meet. Unfortunately, it can take a disability applicant in the Santa Clara area an average of 419 days to complete the disability claim process.
Many people wonder why it takes the average Santa Clara disability applicant more than a year before being approved for Social Security Disability benefits. The lengthy processing times are due to the fact that the majority of applicants are denied benefits during the initial stage of the application process and must, therefore, pursue a lengthy and complex disability appeal. Because there are so many appeals backlogged in the Social Security System, Santa Clara residents must wait a year or more before having their case heard by an administrative law judge.
If you live in the Santa Clara area and you are suffering from a long-term or permanent disability, you may be wondering whether or not you will qualify for disability benefits. You may also be wondering whether the time it takes to pursue the disability claim process is worth the effort.
If you are truly unable to work due to your condition, then the pursuit of a disability claim is definitely in your best interests, as is hiring the services of a qualified Santa Clara Social Security Disability lawyer. When you work with a qualified Santa Clara Social Security attorney, you may increase your chances of being approved for benefits during the initial application process or, if necessary, filing a successful disability appeal.
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
Hiring a Santa Clara Disability Attorney
A Santa Clara Social Security lawyer can increase your chances of receiving an approval of your initial disability claim by assisting you in gathering the evidence that will be needed to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration. He or she can also help you in the preparation of your claim paperwork, presenting it in the best light possible to the Social Security Administration. If, for some reason, your initial application for disability benefits is denied, your Santa Clara disability attorney can increase your chances of successfully appealing the SSA's decision to deny your disability claim.
The first stage of the disability appeal process is referred to as the Request for Reconsideration. Your Santa Clara disability lawyer will need to file this request within 60 days of the date you receive your denial notice from the Social Security Administration. Unfortunately, fewer than 20 percent of these requests are actually granted. Once this happens, your lawyer will then move on to work on the second stage of the appeal process, which is a disability hearing.
The good news is that your greatest chance of overturning the SSA's decision to deny your disability benefits is at your disability hearing. Nearly two-thirds of these hearings are decided in the favor of the disability applicant. It is not wise, however, to try to muddle through this hearing process without representation. Your chances of a favorable outcome in your case can be significantly impacted by proper legal representation. This is why it is so important to retain the services of a qualified Santa Clara Social Security Disability attorney before beginning your disability appeal.
Santa Clara Social Security Disability lawyers understand the complex disability laws and how the current laws impact your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. Because of this, your attorney will be able to present your case to the judge in a way that will provide you with the greatest chance of a successful hearing outcome.
A Santa Clara Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, San Mateo County, San Benito County, Merced County, Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County, and Alameda County: Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Cupertino, Lawrence, River Oaks, Mitty, Saratoga, Campbell, Los Gatos, Cambrian Park, Playa Del Rey, Milpitas, Alum Rock, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Newark, Fremont, Snoboy, and Plaza Del Rey.
