Athens Social Security Attorney
When an individual spends years working hard and paying taxes, a portion of those taxes go to the Social Security Administration to fund the programs that the agency runs. One of these programs provides Social Security Disability benefits to disabled workers.
Unfortunately, until one of these workers actually needs the disability benefits they have paid for, they do not realize how hard it can be to actually have a Social Security Disability claim approved. In fact, nearly 70 percent of initial disability claims are denied by the Social Security Administration. If you live in the Athens, Georgia area, you should consider retaining the services of an Athens Social Security Disability attorney before applying for disability benefits.
The Athens economy flourishes from diversity. The Hill Street Press independent publisher is headquartered in the city and tourism plays a large role in the area's economic well-being. The City of Athens is considered to be an affordable place to live and is rated among the top 22 highest-paid states with an average salary of $48,388. Top employers in Athens include the University of Georgia, Athens Regional Medical Center, Clark County School District and Pilgrim's Pride.
Applying for Athens Social Security Disability Benefits
The city of Athens is home to more than 113,000 Georgia residents. In the State of Georgia, approximately four percent of the residents receive Social Security Disability benefits with an average monthly disability payment of $1,054.70. Unfortunately, it will take an Athens disability applicant an average of 538 days to complete the disability claim process.
The significant processing times are due to the fact that the majority of claims are denied by the Social Security Administration during the initial stage of the application process. These denied applicants must then file an appeal in order to overturn the SSA's decision to deny their disability benefits. This appeal process will normally involve the scheduling of a disability hearing, which is handled by the local Social Security ODAR office. For Athens Social Security Disability applicants, the local ODAR office is located in Covington, Georgia, and it takes this office an average of eight months just to schedule a disability hearing before an administrative law judge due to the backlog of appeals in the Social Security system.
Hiring an Athens Disability Attorney
Many Athens disability applicants wonder if there is any way to avoid the lengthy and complicated disability appeal process. One of the best ways to do this is to retain the services of an Athens Social Security Disability attorney during the initial stage of the application process. An Athens Social Security attorney can help you prepare your application for disability benefits, ensuring that all of the necessary medical evidence is gathered and that your application forms are filled out properly. This will ensure that your disability claim is presented in the best light possible to the Social Security Administration.
If your application for benefits is still denied, your Athens Social Security lawyer will be able to represent you throughout your disability appeal. Most disability appeals involve two stages, including a Request for Reconsideration and a disability hearing. Most reconsideration requests are denied by the SSA, which is why a hearing before an administrative law judge is usually necessary in order to overturn the SSA's decision to deny disability benefits to a Social Security Disability applicant.
A Social Security Disability applicant is technically allowed to represent themselves during the hearing stage of the appeal process. Doing so, however, is not necessarily in your best interests. The hearing process can be complex and overwhelming. There are many laws in place that can affect an individual's Social Security Disability claim and those laws change frequently. Statistics show that disability applicants who hire proper legal representation are more likely to be awarded benefits than applicants who choose to represent themselves.
Many Athens Social Security Disability applicants are worried that they will be unable to afford the legal representation they need. The truth is that the services of an Athens disability attorney are affordable to almost all disability applicants. Disability lawyers work on a contingency basis, collecting twenty-five percent of the back payment that they are awarded by the Social Security Administration, up to an amount of $6,000. If 25-percent of your back payment would exceed the $6,000 mark, your attorney will only receive $6,000 in compensation rather than the full 25 percent. If you do not win your disability case, your attorney does not collect a fee.
You can find speak directly an Athens disability lawyer and can receive a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case by submitting a consultation request form today.
An Athens Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Athens-Clarke County, Oconee County, Ogglethorpe County, Barrow County, Madison County, and Jackson County: Watkinsville, Statham, Bogart, Crawford, Lexington, Winder, Lawrenceville, Brasselton, Commerce, Jackson, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Elberton, Washington, Atlanta, Monroe, Decatur, Oxford, and Gainesville.
