Most hardworking Americans are familiar with the weekly Social Security taxes that are deducted from their paychecks. Unfortunately, this may lead them to incorrectly assume they will undoubtedly have access to Social Security Disability benefits if they become disabled and can no longer work.
What most disabled Texas workers don’t realize is that nearly 70% of Social Security Disability applications are denied. These disabled workers are then forced to go through a lengthy appeal process in hopes of getting granted benefits, often resulting in a wait of two years or more.
When the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies a disabled worker’s application for benefits, the worker can appeal the decision by filing a Request for Reconsideration. This results in a different SSA representative reviewing their claim to confirm that the denial was appropriate.
It can take another 2-4 months for this decision to be made. It’s extremely hard for a disabled worker to support their family on little or no income while their application is pending. Hiring a Sugar Land Social Security lawyer can improve the chances that your application will be approved and you won’t be forced to undergo the lengthy appeals process. A top Sugar Land disability lawyer can make sure that all of the relevant medical records and other evidence are being considered, and knows how to emphasize the most important pieces of this evidence.
The energy industry plays a strong role in the economy of Sugar Land. There is also a significant manufacturing and engineering presence. The area’s top employers include Imperial Sugar, Western Airways, Nalco Chemical Company, Flour, and Schlumberger. The median household income is $107,187, and the cost of living is just slightly higher than the nationwide average.
Applying for Sugar Land Social Security Disability Benefits
Approximately 79,000 residents call Sugar Land home. About 3.7% of the Texas population is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income, with an average monthly payment amount of $1,149. In most cases, Social Security disability payments are determined based on the workers’ wages, so in general, the more you earned when working, the higher your disability payment will be.
If a Sugar Land Social Security disability applicant’s Request for Reconsideration results in another denial, the disabled worker can then file a Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge. The Social Security office in Houston schedules ALJ hearings for disability applicants in the Sugar Land area.
A disabled Sugar Land worker waits an average of 285 days for their hearing to be scheduled with the Houston disability hearing office. This is from the date that they filed their second appeal, and is on top of the 5-8 months they waited while their claim went through the first two stages of the Social Security disability application process.
For more on disability benefits in Texas, see our page on How To Qualify For Disability Benefits In Texas.
Hiring a Sugar Land Disability Attorney
If you’re applying for disability benefits in the Sugar Land area, it can be devastating to have to wait years before receiving a payment. Hiring an experienced Sugar Land Social Security disability attorney can decrease the chances of that happening. If you do end up having an administrative law judge hearing, a knowledgeable disability attorney can use your medical records to show the judge exactly how you meet the Social Security Administration’s strict definition of disabled.
There are no guarantees when it comes to the results of your hearing, and your success hinges on many factors including your specific conditions and which judge is assigned to your claim, but hiring a Sugar Land Social Security disability lawyer can be an effective way to ensure that all relevant evidence is being considered, and can maximize the odds that the judge’s decision will be in your favor.
A Sugar Land disability attorney is paid on a contingent fee basis. This means that your Sugar Land Social Security lawyer is only paid if you are granted benefits. If your application is approved, they will receive a fee equal to 25% of your back benefit payments, up to a $6,000 maximum. So there’s no upfront cost to hire a Sugar Land Social Security attorney, and no reason for Sugar Land, Texas Social Security disability applicants not to take this important action that can be a great benefit to their claim.
A Sugar Land Social Security attorney will also handle disability claims in Selah, Union Gap, Moxee, Tieton, Cowiche, Wiley City, Tampico, Gleed, Missouri City, Wapato, and Toppenish, as well as Kickitat, Benton, Kittititas, and Grant counties.
Simply fill out the form if you would like to request a free evaluation of your Social Security disability case and to learn more about applying for benefits in Sugar Land and hiring a Texas disability attorney.
