Honolulu Social Security Attorney
People who live in the Honolulu area of Hawaii and suffer from a long-term or permanent disability often face serious financial burdens. Not only can a disability significantly impact one's quality of life, it can also prevent an individual from working and earning an income. To make matters worse, disability-related medical expenses often add to the financial pressure experienced by these individuals. Fortunately, many of these individuals qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. The bad news is that most of them won't be able to get those benefits without a fight. Having a Honolulu Social Security Disability attorney in your corner can help increase your chances of winning the battle and receiving the Social Security Disability payments you so desperately need.
In the mid-nineteenth century, Honolulu's economy was centered in trade and whaling. Nations bordering the Pacific flocked to Honolulu to trade whale oil, furs, sandalwood, pineapples and sugar. In current times, Honolulu's economy is heavily influenced by agriculture and aquaculture. Cargo and trade also play a role in the area's economy, as do tourism and manufacturing. In fact, tourism is estimated to contribute approximately $10 billion to the local economy each year. The economic output of the Honolulu metropolitan area is estimated to be approximately $48 billion.
Applying for Honolulu Social Security Disability Benefits
The population of Honolulu is approximately 905,000. It is estimated that there are approximately 69,000 individuals in Honolulu who are listed as disabled. Although the average Social Security Disability benefit payment in the State of Hawaii is $1,027.40, it can take Hawaii residents more than a year to be approved once they apply to get disability benefits. While the average processing time for disability applications in Honolulu is well below the wait times of many other areas in the nation at only 315 days, the majority Honolulu disability applicants wait nearly a year before their disability benefits are finally approved by the SSA.
If you are thinking of filing a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, you should consider retaining the services of a Honolulu Social Security Disability lawyer. A Honolulu Social Security attorney will help you gather the documentation necessary to support your disability claim and can aid you in presenting your disability application in the best light possible to increase your chances of being awarded benefits at the initial stage of the application process. Should your initial application for disability benefits be denied (as 70 percent of applications are), then a Honolulu disability attorney can increase your chances of being awarded benefits during the appeal stage of the Social Security Disability claim process.
It is important that you do everything possible to have your disability application approved during the initial stage of the application process, which generally takes three to four months to complete. Submitting as much objective evidence as possible with your disability claim and providing the proper information to the Social Security Administration will increase your chances of approval.
Hiring a Honolulu Disability Attorney
If you are not approved for benefits during the initial application stage, you will have to wait months before you can appeal the decision and have your case heard before an administrative law judge at a disability hearing, and it is crucial that you contact a Honolulu disability lawyer as soon as possible. You only have 60 days from the date you receive the notice of denial to appeal the SSA's decision, so time is of the essence. While you are not required to hire an attorney in order to appeal a denied disability application, doing so will increase your chances of being awarded benefits in the future.
The first thing your Honolulu Social Security Disability attorney upon initial denial of your disability claim is to file a Request for Reconsideration with the Social Security Administration. Do not expect to receive benefits at this stage of the appeal process, however, as more than 80 percent of appeals are denied at this level. The next stage of the appeal process, which is the disability hearing, is when you have the greatest chance of overturning the SSA's decision to deny your disability benefits.
In most cases, your date in court before an administrative law judge will be scheduled for more than a year out. To give yourself the greatest possible chance of success, you should have a Honolulu Social Security Disability lawyer representing you at this hearing. Statistics show that applicants who go to the hearing with proper legal representation are far more likely to get disability benefits than applicants who choose to represent themselves.
The good news is that you do not have to incur any additional financial burden in order to hire a Honolulu Social Security attorney. These lawyers work on a contingency basis, only collecting payment if you are awarded disability benefits. When you win your Social Security Disability case, your lawyer will receive 25 percent of the back payment you are awarded from the Social Security Administration, up to a limit of $6,000. For example, if you are awarded $20,000 in back pay, your lawyer would receive $5,000 and you would receive $15,000. Your lawyer will not collect payments from any future Social Security Disability benefits you may receive, as only the back payment amount is used to pay for your legal services.
If you are interested in obtaining a free evaluation of your disability case, or to get more information about hiring a Honolulu disability attorney, click here.
