This year alone more than three million disabled Americans are expected to submit claims to the Social Security Administration for Social Security Disability benefits. Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of these claims will be denied during the initial stage of the application process. What does this mean for the millions of Americans whose applications will be rejected?
It means that they will have to undergo the long and drawn-out disability appeal process in order to obtain the Social Security Disability benefits they need. If you live in the Somerville, Massachusetts area and are considering a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, you may want to consult with a Somerville Social Security Disability attorney prior to filing your Social Security Disability claim.
The Somerville economy is driven by the Government, non-profit, business services and hospitality sectors. Some of the city’s leading employers include the City of Somerville, Share Group Inc. and the Somerville Theater. The median household income in Somerville is nearly $70,000 as opposed to the national average of $46,326.
While the median household income is much higher than the national average, the cost of living is higher too. Somerville comes in at 31 percent above the national average in the cost of living index.
Applying for Somerville Social Security Disability Benefits
Somerville is home to approximately 76,000 Massachusetts residents. In the State of Massachusetts, approximately 4.5 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits. The average monthly benefit amount that a Massachusetts Social Security Disability applicant receives is $1,049.30 per month.
While this monthly disability payment can definitely help offset some of the financial stress that can be caused by a disabling condition and a resulting inability to work, it takes the average Somerville disability applicant nearly two years to complete the disability claim process.
Why does it take so long for a Somerville Social Security Disability applicant to begin receiving payments from the Social Security Administration when the initial application process is only supposed to take three to six months to complete? First of all, the reason the initial application takes 6 months to complete is because of the consultative examinationThe extensive wait times are due to the fact that the majority of disability claims are denied by the Social Security Administration during the initial stage of the application process.
Because of this, most Somerville Social Security Disability applicants must pursue a disability appeal in order to obtain the disability benefits they may be entitled to. Unfortunately, the severe backlog of disability cases that are currently under appeal has resulted in a waiting period of more than one year for the scheduling of a disability hearing before an administrative law judge. Fortunately, hiring a Somerville Social Security Disability lawyer can increase your chances of filing a successful disability claim or, if necessary, successfully appealing the SSA's decision to deny your claim for Social Security Disability benefits.
Hiring a Somerville Disability Attorney
The majority of Somerville Social Security Disability applicants do not hire a Somerville Social Security attorney to help them during the initial stage of the application process. These applicants usually wait for the appeal stage of their disability claim before seeking out legal help. What many of these people don't realize is that a Somerville Social Security lawyer can help them increase their chances of obtaining disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process, thereby avoiding the need for a disability appeal.
Your Somerville disability attorney can help you prepare your disability application prior to submitting the claim to the Social Security Administration. Your attorney can help you gather the medical evidence that will be needed in order to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration and will help you ensure that all of your claim forms are filled out properly.
Your attorney will also help you submit your claim, making sure that it is presented to the Social Security Administration in the best light possible. If your application for disability benefits is still denied despite the efforts of your attorney, your Somerville disability lawyer can represent you during each stage of your disability appeal.
The Social Security Disability appeal process is a long and complex. A Somerville Social Security Disability attorney can help you through this process and will prepare your case for a hearing before an administrative law judge. He or she will be able to fill out forms such as HA-4632, that judges often require. While it is true that nearly two-thirds of disability claimants will win their case at the hearing stage of the appeal process, your chances of a successful hearing outcome are significantly increased with proper legal representation.
Once you retain the services of a Somerville Social Security Disability lawyer, your attorney will begin to gather all of the medical evidence that you will need to support your claim for disability benefits. If there is not enough medical evidence available, your lawyer may ask that you undergo further medical testing and may even retain expert witnesses to testify on your behalf at your disability hearing. Your Somerville Social Security attorney may also advise you as to what you should expect at your disability hearing, preparing you on a personal level for when the day in court arrives.
