Flagstaff Social Security Attorney
If you are reading this, chances are that you or someone you know is in need of Social Security Disability help. It is no secret that obtaining disability benefits from the Social Security Administration can be a frustrating, time-consuming and exhaustive process. To make matters worse, only about 60 to 70 percent of the initial disability claims that are filed each year are approved by the SSA. If you live in the Flagstaff, Arizona area and you want to increase your chances of being approved for the disability benefits you need during the initial stage of the application process or if you need to overturn the SSA’s decision to deny your disability claim, you should consider retaining the services of a qualified Flagstaff Social Security Disability attorney.
In its early history, the economy of Flagstaff was founded by the railroad, lumber and ranching industries. Times have changed, however, and now the economic climate of Flagstaff, Arizona is much more diverse. Today, the education, health, science and government sectors also play a vital role in the city’s economic well-being. Some of the area’s largest employers include Northern Arizona University, the United States Geological Survey and Flagstaff Medical Center. The median household income in Flagstaff is approximately $50,000 per year and the unemployment rate in the city is 7.7 percent, as opposed to the national average of 9.10 percent.
More than 95,000 residents in the State of Arizona receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, and that number continues to grow. In order to be approved for Social Security Disability payments in Flagstaff, an applicant must currently suffer from a disability that completely prevents any type of work activity whatsoever and that disability must be expected to last for a minimum of at least 12 months. The burden of proving that your disability actually prevents you from working, however, is on your shoulders and many disability applicants discover that proving such a fact to the Social Security Administration is not as easy as one might expect.
Applying for Flagstaff Social Security Disability Benefits
In order to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration you must provide sufficient objective medical evidence and you must properly complete all of the claim forms that are required of you by the SSA. This can be a complicated endeavor and, in most cases, to complete these forms properly and gather sufficient medical evidence you will need to enlist the help of an experienced Flagstaff Social Security Disability lawyer.
When you work with a Flagstaff Social Security Disability attorney, your attorney will ensure that all of your claim forms are filled out properly and that you have gathered enough medical evidence to prove your case. If you do not have enough medical evidence, your lawyer may advise you to go in for further testing and treatment prior to actually filing your disability claim. Once all of the necessary information has been gathered, your lawyer will prepare your case so that it can be submitted to the SSA in the best light possible.
Hiring a Flagstaff Disability Attorney
If your application for disability benefits is denied by the SSA, your Flagstaff Social Security lawyer can represent you through each stage of the appeal process. A disability appeal usually consists of two stages including a reconsideration request and a disability hearing. While nearly 90 percent of reconsideration requests are also denied by the SSA, almost two-thirds of cases are won at the hearing stage of the appeal process and your chances of being among those winners is significantly increased with proper legal representation.
Fortunately, it does not have to cost an arm and a leg to hire a qualified Flagstaff disability lawyer. These professionals work on a contingency basis, collecting 25 percent of the back pay that you are awarded by the SSA. Your lawyer’s payment will come directly out of your disability back payment so you do not have to worry about paying your lawyer for his or her services. If you do not win your disability case, your lawyer does not collect a fee. Because of this, it is in your lawyer’s best interests to represent you to the best of his or her ability when taking your disability case before the administrative law judge.
While you technically are not required to have an attorney representing you through any stage of the Social Security Disability application process, statistics prove that you are more likely to be awarded benefits if you have proper legal representation. Since obtaining such representation will not result in any up-front expenses, it is only logical that you should seek out the services of a Flagstaff disability lawyer prior to filing your Social Security Disability claim.
Click here to request a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case and to learn more about hiring a Flagstaff Social Security Disability lawyer.
