Citrus Heights Social Security Attorney
Millions of hardworking Americans pay into the Social Security system each month. Many may feel comforted by these paycheck deductions because they assume that they money they contributed will be available to them in the event they become disabled and can’t work. Unfortunately, it is not always that simple.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) denies the large majority of Social Security Disability claims. Around 70% of disabled workers are denied upon their first application. Some of these individuals will eventually receive benefits at a later stage in the process, but they could be in for a wait of two years or more before actually seeing a disability check. This is because when a claimant’s application is denied, they are forced to proceed through the SSA’s lengthy appeals process. If you’re a disabled worker and are applying for disability benefits in the Citrus Heights, California area, hiring a qualified Citrus Heights disability attorney could increase the chances that your application will be approved at the initial stage and you will be able to avoid the inconvenient and stressful appeals process.
Applying for Citrus Heights Social Security Disability Benefits
Citrus Height is home to many busy retail and other service industry businesses. The government and transportation industries also play a big part in Citrus Heights’ economy. Kaiser Permanente, Raley’s, Inc., the Intel Corporation, and the UC Davis Health System are all major Citrus Height area employers. The median household income in Citrus Heights is $37,049 and the cost of living is almost 15% higher than the national average.
Citrus Heights has approximately $37,049 residents. Using the SSA’s data, an estimated 2,500 people in Citrus Heights are currently receiving Social Security Disability benefits (SSA provides that 3% of California residents are on Social Security Disability). The average amount of a disability payment in California is $1,098.60.
Hiring a Citrus Heights Disability Attorney
When a disabled worker has their application for disability benefits denied, the next step is to file a Request for Reconsideration. After waiting 3-4 months for their first decision, it will take another 2-4 months for the reconsideration decision to be received. If this is also a denial (which the large majority are) the next step is for the claimant to file a Request for Administrative Law Judge Hearing. Then the waiting really begins.
The office that schedules Administrative Law Judge hearings for Citrus Heights California Social Security disability applicants is located in Sacramento, California. The average waiting time for a hearing to be scheduled out of this office is over a year, at 357 days. This is on top of the several months the disabled worker spent waiting for their claim to be decided at the first two levels. Once the hearing takes place, it can take another two to three months for the judge’s decision to be issued. Although a claimant’s best chance to have their application approved comes at this level, the wait to get here can be devastating. It can be extremely hard for a disabled California worker to live on little or no income for two years or more while they are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income.
If they haven’t already done so, it’s extremely important for Citrus Heights, California Social Security Disability applicants to hire an experienced Social Security lawyer while they’re waiting for their hearing to be scheduled. An attorney with knowledge of the Social Security Disability process can formulate a legal argument to show the judge exactly how the claimant meets the requirements to qualify as disabled. They can ensure that the SSA has all of the relevant medical records and other evidence and can prepare the claim to be presented to the judge in the most favorable light possible.
Citrus Heights Social Security lawyers are paid on a contingent basis, meaning they only get paid in the event you are awarded benefits. There are no upfront costs to hire a Citrus Heights Social Security Disability attorney. In the event your application for benefits is approved at any stage, your Citrus Heights Social Security attorney will receive 25% of your back benefits (up to a maximum of $6,000). A Citrus Heights Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle other Sacramento county claims as well as disability claims in the nearby cities and towns of Rosemont, La Riveria, Broderick, Peethill, Highland Park, Bryte, Silvas Grove, Loudal, and Swanston.
Simply fill out the form if you would like to request a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case or to learn more about applying for benefits in Citrus Heights and hiring a Citrus Heights Social Security attorney.
