When an individual is suffering from a long-term or permanent disability and is unable to work due to the limitations that disability places on them, the financial difficulties can quickly become overwhelming. With no way to make money, the bills begin to spiral out of control. Mounting disability-related medical costs only add to the financial stress. In many cases, Social security Disability benefits may be able to offset some of the monetary troubles that are caused by a disability. Unfortunately, the majority of disability claims are denied by the Social Security Administration during the initial stage of the application process. If you are planning on applying for Social Security Disability benefits in the Springfield, Illinois area, you need to consider retaining the services of a Springfield Social Security Disability attorney.
Springfield is the capitol of Illinois, and as such many of the area jobs in the city are centered around the state government. In fact, the State of Illinois has been the city's largest employer since 2002. The State of Illinois, however, is not the only player in Springfield's economic well-being. Agriculture, trade, transportation, utilities and health care all play a role in the economic climate of the city. Aside from the state, some of the city's largest employers include Memorial Health Systems and AT&T Mobility.
Applying for Springfield Social Security Disability Benefits
The State of Illinois has a population of approximately 8.1 million residents. Springfield is home to just under 120,000 of those residents. Approximately 281,000 of the residents in Illinois receive Social Security Disability benefits. Statistics show that the approval rate for initial disability claims is higher in Illinois than the national average. While approximately 70 percent of all initial disability claims received by the Social Security Administration are denied, that number drops to 60 percent in Illinois. That does not mean, however, that you should assume that your claim for benefits will automatically be approved. Even though the approval rate in Illinois is higher, your chances of being approved at the initial application stage are still less than 50 percent. Because of this, you should consider retaining the services of a Springfield Social Security Disability lawyer when filing a claim for disability benefits.
Hiring a Springfield Disability Attorney
When you retain the services of a Springfield Social Security attorney you can increase your chances of having your initial disability application approved, thereby avoiding the need for a lengthy disability appeal. Your Springfield Social Security lawyer can help you gather the medical evidence and documentation you will need to support your Social Security Disability claim and can help you prepare it and present it in the best light possible to the Social Security Administration. If, for some reason, your application for disability benefits is denied, your Springfield disability attorney can help you begin the disability appeal process in order to overturn the SSA's and the DDS's decision to deny your disability claim.
It is no secret that the Social Security Disability appeal process is complex, confusing, stressful and lengthy. Statistics show that applicants who have proper legal representation during a disability appeal have a greater chance of winning their appeal than applicants who choose to represent themselves.
When you hire a Springfield disability lawyer, the professional you choose will go over your disability claim with you. They may find that important evidence was missing from your application. They may also find that you do not have enough evidence to support your claim and may ask you to undergo additional medical testing to support your case for disability benefits. Once your lawyer has ensured that everything is in order, they will file the first stage of appeals, which is the Request for Reconsideration.
You must be prepared to have this request denied. Your chances of being awarded benefits as a result of this request are very slim, as nearly 90 percent of the first appeals filed in Illinois are denied by the SSA. What you and your lawyer will be focusing on is the second stage of the appeal process, which is the disability hearing. This is when you will have the greatest chance of overturning the SSA's decision to deny your benefits and this is when your Springfield Social Security Disability attorney will really go to work for you.
The good news is that nearly two-thirds of disability hearings are decided in the favor of the disability applicant. The bad news is that a disability hearing can be very stressful and confusing. Fortunately, with proper legal representation, you will be led through this process and will have the best chance of a favorable hearing outcome. Your Springfield Social Security Disability lawyer will provide you with professional advice that will help you through your hearing. It is important that you pay attention to your attorney's advice. A Springfield Social Security attorney knows what it takes to win a disability case and it is in their best interests to help you win yours.
A Springfield Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Sangamon County, Menard County, Macon County, Logan County, Christian County, Montgomery County, Logan County, Cass County, and Macoupin County: Pawnee, Chatham, Auburn, Decatur, Petersburg, Beardstown, Winchester, Pittsfield, Hannibal, Champaign, Bloomington, Bartonville, Delavan, Mason City, Peoria, Effingham, and Taylorville.
