Brownsville Social Security Attorney
Brownsville, Texas, is a city of about 175,000 on the US side of the border of the United States and Mexico. Over 93% of the city’s population is of Latino descent. Less than 14% of Brownsville residents hold a Bachelor’s degree, significantly lower than the national average.
Situated on the Rio Grande River and near the Gulf of Mexico, Brownsville is the southernmost city in Texas and the 16th largest city in the state. Much of the local economy revolves around servicing people who are going from the United States to Mexico and vice versa. Because of this, much of the available employment is in the services industries. Brownsville does maintain its own airport, as well as a number of attractions enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.
Over 26% of Brownsville residents live with a disability. This is significantly higher than the national average, which is just under 20%. Only 48% of those disabled are able to find gainful employment, somewhat lower than the national average. Over 30% of the area’s population was born outside of the United States, and of these over 20% are not yet US citizens. The majority of these residents originate from Mexico. This does not necessarily mean that they can’t collect Social Security disability benefits if they have been living and working in the United States.
Applying for Brownsville Social Security Disability Benefits
It is important for Brownsville residents to realize that one is not required to be a US citizen in order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. As long as you have resided in the US and worked here legally for five years or more, you may qualify for benefits if you become disabled. If you live in Brownsville and find yourself unable to work due to a disability, you should consider hiring a Brownsville disability attorney to handle your case. Not only will a Brownsville Social Security Disability lawyer be familiar with the Social Security Administration’s policies regarding disability, but he or she will also be thoroughly familiar with the unique challenges Mexican Americans and immigrants face when dealing with the Social Security Disability system.
You have the right to representation at all stages of the disability application process. You can have a Brownsville Social Security Disability lawyer represent you right from the time you fill out your initial disability application and throughout all stages of the appeals process. In addition to making the process a bit more hassle free for you, having your claim represented by a Brownsville disability lawyer gives you the best chance of having your claim approved.
Hiring a Brownsville Disability Attorney
Your Brownsville disability attorney will only charge you if he or she wins your case and you begin to receive Social Security Disability benefits. Your Brownsville Social Security Disability lawyer’s fee will come out of the back pay which is owed to you, and you will not lose any of the money which is paid out to you on an ongoing basis. Most Social Security attorneys charge 25% of the back pay which you will receive once your claim has been accepted. In no case (as of 2011) will your Brownsville disability lawyer charge you more than $6,000 as this is the maximum allowable by federal law.
Because poverty rates are high in Brownsville, many who qualify for Social Security Disability benefits will also qualify for Supplemental Security Income which is a need-based program. Your Brownsville Social Security Disability attorney will thoroughly review your case and make recommendations regarding which disability programs may be available to you. Most Brownsville disability lawyers offer services in English and in Spanish, which can make navigating the Social Security system considerably easier and faster for those who don’t speak English, or who don’t speak it well.
A Brownsville Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Cameron County, Hidalgo County, and Willacy County: South Point, La Barrita, Cameron Park, Los Fresnos, South Padre Island, Port Isabel, San Pedro, Olmito, San Benito, and Harlingen.
