Albany Social Security Attorney
Each and every year, millions of Americans face a disabling condition that prevents them from performing substantial gainful work activity. This inability to work, combined with mounting disability-related medical bills, can be financially devastating to the disabled individual. The Social Security Administration provides Social Security Disability benefits to help in cases such as these, but actually being approved for these benefits can be a complicated and stressful endeavor. The truth is, the SSA only approves approximately 30 percent of the disability applications that are received by the Social Security Administration each year. What happens to the remaining 70 percent of applicants who need disability benefits to make ends meet? If they are smart, they hire an Albany Social Security Disability attorney and appeal the SSA's decision to deny their Social Security Disability payments.
Albany’s economy has expanded considerably over the years and while agriculture is still an important part of the area’s economic well being, health care, government, education, manufacturing, retail and transportation also play leading roles in the city’s economic climate. Some of the largest employers in the Albany area include Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Procter & Gamble, Miller Brewing Company, Coats and Clark, Inc. and the United Parcel Service. The median household income of the city is $28,639 while the annual cost of living index is approximately 10 percent lower than the national average.
Applying for Albany Social Security Disability Benefits
There are approximately 204,000 individuals in the State of Georgia who receive Social Security Disability benefits. While the monthly disability benefits that are provided by the SSA can significantly offset some of the financial stress that can be caused by a disability, the truth is that it takes many Georgia residents well over two years to see their first disability payment.
Why does it take so long for applicants to be awarded Social Security Disability benefits? While the initial application process for Social Security Disability benefits only takes three to four months, only about 30 percent of applicants are approved at this stage. The remaining 70 percent of Social Security Disability applicants must go on to file an appeal in order to receive benefits, and that means waiting for a Social Security Disability hearing. Due to the backlog of disability cases in the Social Security System, it can take a significant amount of time (in some cases, almost two years) to get your day in court.
Hiring an Albany Disability Attorney
The most effective way to avoid the need for a long and drawn out disability appeal is to provide the Social Security Administration with as much medical evidence as possible during the initial stage of the application process. An Albany Social Security Disability lawyer can help you gather this necessary medical evidence. If, for some reason, your initial claim is not approved by the Social Security Administration, an Albany Social Security attorney can help you file an appeal in order to overturn the SSA's decision to deny your Social Security Disability claim.
If your initial application for Social Security Disability benefits has been denied, it is crucial that you meet with an Albany Social Security lawyer as soon as possible. You only have 60 days from the date that you receive the SSA's decision of denial to file an appeal. Once you meet with your Albany disability attorney, he or she will review your disability case with you and will help you determine what additional evidence may be needed in order to support your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. If necessary, your lawyer may gather additional statements from treating physicians and may even obtain expert witness testimony for your disability hearing.
Your Albany disability attorney will also help you prepare for your disability hearing before the administrative law judge. The hearing stage of the appeal process is when you have the highest chance of being awarded benefits. Nearly two-thirds of applicants receive a favorable decision as a result of their disability hearing. It is important to note that your chances of being awarded benefits as a result of your hearing are significantly increased with proper legal representation. This is why it is important to hire an Albany disability lawyer. If, for some reason, you are not awarded benefits at the hearing stage of the disability appeal process, your Albany Social Security Disability attorney can discuss the next step of the disability appeal process with you.
If hiring an Albany disability attorney makes such a difference, why don’t more people do it? Many people are under the impression that they can't afford proper legal representation. The truth is that disability attorneys work on a contingency basis collecting only 25 percent of the back pay that you are awarded by the Social Security Administration (up to a limit of $6,000).
Click here if you would like to receive a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case and to learn more about hiring an Albany Social Security Disability attorney to represent you in your Social Security Disability claim.
