Hampton Social Security Attorney
Statistics show that nearly 70 percent of the Social Security Disability claims that are received by the Social Security Administration are denied during the initial stage of the application process. These statistics also show that proper legal representation can increase your chances of receiving an approval of your disability benefits during the initial application stage or at a disability appeal. If you are considering an application for Social Security Disability benefits in Hampton, Virginia, or if you wish to appeal a denial of a claim that you have already submitted, you should consider retaining the services of a Hampton Social Security Disability attorney.
In 2011 Hampton was the recipient of the Donald E. Hunter Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award. This is largely due to the fact that the city's economy is flourishing, with the redevelopment of a local mall providing approximately 2,400 new jobs to area residents. Other major employers in Hampton include the local government, Fort Monroe, area schools, the Hampton Virginia Medical Center and NASA Langley Research Center and Air Force Base. The area's median household income is $39,532.
In the State of Virginia there are more than 5 million residents, of which approximately 209,000 receive Social Security Disability benefits. The average monthly benefit amount for Social Security Disability recipients in Virginia is $1,071.80 per month. It takes a Hampton Social Security Disability applicant an average of 442 days to obtain Social Security Disability benefits, even though the initial application process only takes three to four months to complete.
Applying for Hampton Social Security Disability Benefits
The reason that it takes Hampton disability applicants so long to receive an approval of their disability benefits is that more than half of the initial Social Security Disability applications received by the SSA are denied, resulting in the need for a disability appeal. This appeal process can take more than a year to complete due to the backlog of cases waiting to be heard before an administrative law judge. Because of this, Hampton-area residents who are applying for Social Security Disability benefits should consider hiring a Hampton Social Security Disability lawyer to represent them in their pursuit of Social Security Disability benefits.
To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits in Hampton, you must have a disabling condition that meets a Medical Listing published in the Social Security Administration's guidelines and your condition must be expected to last a year or more. If you do not have a condition that meets a specific Medical Listing, you may still be able to obtain Social Security Disability benefits, but you will need to prove to the SSA that your disability prevents you from performing any type of work activity whatsoever.
The services of a Hampton Social Security attorney can be vital to the success of your disability claim. Your lawyer can assist you in the filing of your disability claim, ensuring that it is presented properly to the Social Security Administration and that you include all of the medical evidence that will be needed to support your disability case. If your initial claim for benefits is denied by the Social Security Administration, your Hampton Social Security lawyer will be able to represent you during the disability appeal process. It is important to have proper legal representation during this appeal. Statistics show that applicants who retain the services of a Hampton disability attorney are more likely to be awarded benefits than applicants who choose to represent themselves.
Hiring a Hampton Disability Attorney
If your initial application for Social Security Disability benefits is denied by the Social Security Administration, it is likely that you will have to appear before an administrative law judge as a part of the appeal process. While there is a stage of appeal prior to the hearing stage, referred to as the Request for Reconsideration fewer than 15 percent of appeals are granted at this stage. Fortunately, the majority of Social Security Disability applicants will be awarded benefits during the hearing stage of the appeal process, with nearly two-thirds of applicants being awarded benefits as a result of their disability hearing.
It will take you more than a year to obtain your day in court for your disability hearing, so you will need everything to go perfectly. Your chances of overturning the SSA's decision to deny your benefits at this hearing are significantly increased with proper legal representation. If you want to tip the scales in your favor, you will need to retain the services of a Hampton Social Security lawyer to represent you at this disability hearing.
If you are worried that you cannot afford to pay for a Hampton disability attorney, you will be happy to discover that even the best disability lawyers cause you any financial burden. Hampton disability lawyers work on a contingency basis, collecting either 25 percent of the back pay that you are awarded by the Social Security Administration or $6,000 (whichever is less). If you do not win your case for Social Security Disability benefits, your lawyer does not collect a fee.
A Hampton Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Hampton County, Poquoson County, Newport News County, Norfolk County, Virginia Beach County, Portsmouth County, and Chesapeake County: Aberdeen Gardens, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Gloucester Point, Williamsburg, Smithfield, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
