Baltimore Social Security Attorney
Approximately 60 to 70 percent of the Social Security Disability applications filed each year are denied at the initial stage of the application process. Applicants who are denied at the initial stage must go on to file Social Security Disability appeals if they hope to receive disability benefits in the future. While the initial application process only takes three to four months to complete, appealing a denied application can take years. To make matters worse, the appeal process can be complicated and stressful in addition to time-consuming. In Baltimore, the average processing time for a Social Security Disability application is 452 days due to the lengthy appeals process. A Baltimore Social Security attorney can help you file a successful appeal and may expedite your receipt of disability benefits.
While Baltimore's economy has traditionally been centered around the steel industry with a significant percentage of the area's jobs being generated by Bethlehem Steel, the economy has evolved in recent years. The legal, medical, finance, entertainment and hospitality fields are becoming an increasingly-important part of Baltimore's economy. The technology industry is also experiencing rapid growth in Baltimore, with IT, aerospace and telecommunications companies contributing to the city's growth and creating new jobs for area residents. In 2009, Baltimore was ranked the 18th-best metro area in the United States for job applicants. There are estimated to be approximately 287,000 individuals in Baltimore's labor force. Approximately 71,000 of Baltimore's residents receive Social Security income and approximately 22,500 individuals receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. In 2008, the gross regional product of the city was $133 billion, a substantial twenty-eight percent increase since 2001.
Applying for Baltimore Social Security Disability Benefits
Individuals applying for Social Security Disability benefits in Baltimore are often denied at the initial stage of the application process. These applicants must go on to file an appeal and have their case heard before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in order to obtain benefits in the future. Fortunately, the chance of winning a claim for Social Security Disability benefits is significantly increased at this stage of the application process. It is estimated that approximately two-thirds of Social Security Disability cases are won at the hearing stage of appeals. This may be due to the fact that the majority of applicants retain the services of a Baltimore disability attorney to represent them at the hearing. Statistics show that proper legal representation can significantly increase an applicant's chance of winning a disability appeal.
When contacting a Baltimore disability lawyer, the first thing your lawyer will do is review the details of your disability claim. To be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, you must have a qualifying disability that will last for a period of twelve months or more. Your attorney will review your disability with you and will help you determine whether or not your particular condition meets the Social Security Administration's guidelines. Your attorney will also help you determine for which Social Security Disability program you are eligible. If you have earned enough work credits and are suffering from a qualifying disabling condition, you will be eligible for SSDI benefits. If you have not earned enough work credits, you may still receive financial assistance from Social Security through the SSI (Supplemental Security Income) program, as long as your income and assets are below the established guidelines. While your income and assets are not considered when applying for SSDI, SSI is a needs-based program and is only available to low-income disabled individuals.
Hiring a Baltimore Disability Attorney
If you have been denied disability benefits at the initial application stage, your Baltimore Social Security lawyer will file the necessary appeal paperwork and will begin preparing your claim for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. This judge will review the merits of your claim, how your disability interferes with your ability to work and all of your medical evidence in order to determine whether or not you should be approved for Social Security Disability benefits. Your chances of receiving a favorable decision at this stage of the application process are significantly greater than your chances of being approved for benefits at the initial stage. Working with a Social Security attorney can further increase your chances of a favorable decision.
Fortunately, hiring a Baltimore disability attorney does not have to be cost-prohibitive. Your attorney will receive either 25-percent of your Social Security back pay or $6,000 (whichever is less). For example, if you are approved for disability benefits and are awarded $10,000 in back payments, your Baltimore Social Security attorney would receive a payment of $2,500 from your back payment of benefits and you would keep the remaining $7,500. If you were awarded $30,000 in back payments, your attorney would receive $6,000 and you would keep the remaining $24,000. You should not have to pay any up-front, out-of-pocket expenses to the attorney representing you in your disability claim.
If you would like to request a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case or would like to learn more about hiring a Baltimore Social Security lawyer, click here.
A Baltimore Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Harford County, and Howard County: Dundalk, Edgemere, Rosedale, Essex, Rossville, Parkville, Carney, Woodlawn, Lochearn, Milford Mill, Randallstown, Ellicot City, Catonsville, Arbutus, Glen Burnie, Pumphrey, Ferndale, Elkridge, and Columbia.
