Many workers in The Hammocks pay taxes into the Social Security system. The taxes pay for retirement benefits and disability insurance for hard-working American taxpayers. Because of this, it is assumed that Social Security Disability benefits will be there for them if they should ever face a long-term or permanent disability.
What these individuals do not realize is that when they have paid year after year into the Social Security system, it is not always easy to obtain the Social Security Disability benefits they need. The fact of the matter is, as few as 30 percent of disability claims are actually approved by the Social Security Administration during the initial stage of the application process. The remaining 70 percent of disability applicants must undergo a lengthy disability appeal in order to obtain the disability benefits they may be entitled to.
What can you do to increase your chances of being approved for disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process? In many situations, the services of a Social Security Disability attorney in The Hammocks may help.
The Hammocks is a suburb of Miami County, being located six mile west of Kendall. The technology sector plays a vital role in the economy of The Hammocks, and the headquarters of the famous Alienware computer manufacturer is located within the suburb. The area is affluent with a median household income of $62,618, compared to the median household income of Florida which is $49,795 and the median household income of the United States as a whole, which is $54,595. The cost of living, however, is also higher coming in at six percent above the national average.
Applying for The Hammocks Social Security Disability Benefits
The Hammocks is home to nearly 50,000 Florida residents. In the State of Florida, approximately 4.1 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits. The average payment that a Florida Social Security Disability beneficiary will receive is $1,068.10 per month. While this monthly disability benefit can help offset some of the financial burden that is caused by a long-term or permanent disability, it will take the average Hammocks Social Security Disability applicant more than two years to see their first disability payment from the Social Security Administration.
Why does it take so long for disability applicants in The Hammocks to obtain Social Security Disability benefits? The extensive waiting periods are due to the fact that the majority of disability claims are denied during the initial application stage, which only takes three to six months.
After the initial application stage has been completed, nearly 70 percent of applicants must appeal a denial of their disability claim. This appeal usually means a hearing before an administrative law judge. Due to the extensive backlog of disability appeals, it takes the Miami ODAR office (which is responsible for scheduling disability hearings for The Hammocks disability applicants) an average of 547 days to schedule such a hearing.
Hiring a The Hammocks Disability Attorney
Many Social Security Disability applicants wonder if there is any way to increase their chance of a favorable decision during the initial stage of the application process, thereby avoiding the need for a lengthy disability appeal. In many cases, the services of a Social Security Disability lawyer in The Hammocks can help.
What can a Social Security attorney in The Hammocks do to help you in your claim for disability benefits? When you hire a Social Security lawyer in The Hammocks, he or she will help you gather the information that will be needed in order to file a successful claim for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration. If, for some reason, your initial claim for benefits is denied, your the attorney you choose can help you file a successful appeal to overturn the SSA's decision to deny your Social Security Disability claim.
If your claim for Social Security Disability benefits has been denied, it is important that you understand that time is of the essence. You need to contact a disability attorney in The Hammocks as soon as possible since you only have 60 days from the date you received notice of your benefits denial to appeal the SSA's decision and your lawyer will need as much time as possible to prepare your appeal for you.
When hiring a disability lawyer in The Hammocks, the first thing your lawyer will do is determine whether or not you meet the SSA's qualifying criteria. Your lawyer will discuss your past relevant work with you and your educational background as well as the details regarding your disabling condition.
After your attorney has reviewed your Social Security Disability claim, he or she will decide which of the disability programs you may qualify for (SSDI, SSI or both) and will work to prepare your disability claim with you, ensuring that all of the necessary evidence is provided to the Social Security Administration and that your application paperwork is presented in the best light possible.
If your initial application for benefits is denied, your Hammocks Social Security Disability attorney will file the necessary appeal paperwork and will begin gathering the evidence needed to further support your disability claim. This may involve further testing to obtain additional medical evidence or retaining expert witnesses to testify on your behalf at your disability hearing. Fortunately, nearly two-thirds of the individuals who attend a disability hearing will receive a favorable decision from the administrative law judge who is overseeing their case.
For more on qualifying for disability benefits in Florida, see How To Qualify For Disability In Florida.
