Erie Social Security Attorney
They say that only two things in life are certain – death and taxes. In a way, that is true. We never know what our future may hold. What we do know is that we pay taxes out of each and every paycheck we receive, and a portion of those taxes are supposed to protect us from some of the “unknowns” that life may throw at us. That is why we expect Social Security Disability benefits to be there for us when a long-term or permanent disability arises. Unfortunately, not all disability applicants are able to easily obtain the Social Security Disability benefits they so desperately need. In fact, sometimes it's a downright struggle. Fortunately, there are ways to make the disability claim process less stressful and more successful. If you live in the Erie, Pennsylvania area and have been faced with a long-term or permanent disability, it is in your best interests to consult with an Erie Social Security Disability attorney.
The City of Erie benefits from a diversified economy. The government, manufacturing and medical service sectors play the leading roles in the area's economic well-being. Insurance, retail and public utility businesses also contribute to the city's economy. Erie is home to some of the leading names in business including GE Transportation Systems, Plastek Industries and the Erie Insurance Group. The median household income in the city is $32,136 and Erie's cost of living is two percent less than the national average.
Erie is a rather large city by Pennsylvania standards and is home to more than 103,00 residents, making it the fourth-largest city in the state. In the State of Pennsylvania, approximately 4.8 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits. The average monthly benefit amount for these recipients is $1,072.60 per month. While this monthly disability payment can significantly offset some of the financial burdens caused by a disabling condition, the fact that it takes Erie disability applicants an average of 476 days to complete the Social Security Disability claim process is somewhat concerning.
Applying for Erie Social Security Disability Benefits
If the initial application process for Social Security Disability benefits only takes three to four months to complete, why does it take most Erie disability applicants more than a year to see their first benefit payment from the Social Security Administration? The extensive processing times are due to the fact that the Social Security Administration denies approximately 70 percent of the claims received each year. This results in the need for a disability appeal which, in the case of Erie disability applicants, will take more than a year to complete.
There are two stages that most disability applicants must go through. The first stage, which is called a Request for Reconsideration, takes approximately 3 to 6 months to complete. Unfortunately, more than 80 percent of these appeals are also denied by the Social Security Administration, resulting in the need for a disability hearing. The disability hearing, which is the second stage of the appeal process, is when you will plead your case in court before an administrative law judge. Unfortunately, it takes the ODAR office in charge of scheduling the hearings for Erie disability applicants an average of thirteen months to schedule a date before an administrative law judge.
No one wants to wait nearly two years before receiving their first disability payment, but most Erie Social Security Disability applicants do. Is there any way you can avoid falling into the backlogged mess of disability appeals? The truth is, the only way to avoid a disability appeal is to have your disability claim approved during the initial stage of the application process. This is where the services of an Erie Social Security Disability lawyer can help.
Hiring an Erie Disability Attorney
When working with an Erie Social Security attorney, your lawyer will be go over your disability claim with you, ensuring that you have enough medical evidence to support your claim for disability benefits and that your application paperwork is filled out properly. This will help the adjudicator reviewing your file understand the extent of your disability and why you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, increasing your chances of an approval at the initial stage of the claim process. If your initial application has been denied by the Social Security Administration, an Erie Social Security lawyer can represent you through each stage of your disability appeal, increasing your chances of overturning the SSA's decision to deny your disability benefits.
While the Social Security Administration does allow you to represent yourself during a disability appeal, doing so is not in your best interests. Statistics show that applicants who obtain legal representation for the appeal process are more like to receive benefits than applicants who choose to represent themselves. This is why the services of an Erie disability attorney are crucial to the outcome of your case once you have entered the appeal stage of the disability claim process.
Click here if you would like to request a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability claim or to learn more about hiring an Erie disability lawyer to represent you during your Social Security Disability case.
An Erie Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Erie County, Crawford County, and Warren County: Wesleyville, Lawrence Park, Phillipsville, Waterford, Wattsburg, McKeon, Avonia, Fairview, Edinboro, Mill Village, Union City, Elgin, Concord, and Spartansburg.
