Lake Charles Social Security Attorney
Every year millions of Americans face a disabling condition that prevents them from performing substantial gainful work activity. This inability to work, combined with mounting disability-related medical bills, can be financially devastating to the disabled individual and, in many cases, may also put significant financial stress on their families. While Social Security Disability benefits are intended to help Lake Charles residents who find themselves in such a situation, the fact of the matter is that only 30 percent of the disability applications that are received by the Social Security Administration each year are actually approved at the initial stage of the application process. What happens to the remaining 70 percent of applicants who need disability benefits? If they are smart, they hire a Lake Charles Social Security Disability attorney and work with this attorney to appeal the SSA's decision to deny their disability benefits.
Lake Charles benefits from a diverse economy. The industry and manufacturing, commerce and retail and healthcare and medical sectors all play an important role in the economic well-being of the area. Thousands of Lake Charles residents are employed by the petro-chemical refineries that are located in Lake Charles. Some of these companies include Citgo, PPG Industries and ConocoPhilips. The Prien Lake Mall is another establishment that offers many jobs to area residents in addition to a variety of shopping venues. The median household income in Lake Charles is approximately $48,000 per year while the annual cost of living is approximately 14 percent lower than the national average.
Applying for Lake Charles Social Security Disability Benefits
Lake Charles is home to approximately 200,000 Louisiana residents. The average monthly Social Security Disability benefit in the state of Louisiana is $958.40. While this amount can significantly help an individual who has no other means of income, it takes an average of two years for a disability claim to be processed in Lake Charles. This means that most applicants will wait approximately two years before seeing a single payment from the Social Security Administration.
Why does it take so long for applicants to be awarded Social Security Disability benefits? The initial application stage of the disability claim process only takes three to four months, but only about 30 percent of applicants are approved at this stage. The remaining 70 percent must go on to file an appeal in order to receive disability benefits, and that means waiting for a Social Security Disability hearing. Due to the backlog of disability cases, it takes a significant amount of time to get your day in court in front of the administrative law judge who will be hearing your disability case.
Hiring a Lake Charles Disability Attorney
The most effective way to avoid a long disability claim process is to provide the Social Security Administration with as much evidence as possible with your initial claim for benefits. A Lake Charles Social Security Disability lawyer can help you gather the evidence that will be necessary to file a successful disability claim. If, for some reason, your initial claim is not approved by the Social Security Administration, a Lake Charles Social Security attorney can help you file an appeal to overturn the SSA's decision to deny your benefits.
If your initial application for Social Security Disability benefits has been denied, it is crucial that you meet with a Lake Charles Social Security lawyer as soon as possible. You only have 60 days from the date of receiving the SSA's decision to file an appeal, so time is of the essence. Once you meet with your Lake Charles disability attorney, he or she will review your disability case and will help you determine what additional evidence may be needed to support your claim for disability benefits. If necessary, your lawyer may gather additional statements from treating physicians and may even obtain expert witnesses to testify on your behalf at your disability hearing.
Your Lake Charles Social Security Disability attorney will also help you prepare for your hearing before the administrative law judge who will be presiding over your case. The hearing stage of the appeal process is when you have the highest chance of being awarded the disability benefits you need. Nearly two-thirds of applicants receive a favorable decision as a result of their disability hearing. Your chances of being awarded benefits as a result of your hearing are significantly increased with proper legal representation. This is why it is important to hire a Lake Charles Social Security Disability lawyer, even though you are not required to do so by the Social Security Administration. If, for some reason, you are not awarded benefits at the hearing stage of the disability appeal process, your Lake Charles Social Security attorney can discuss the next step of the appeal process with you.
Click here if you would like to receive a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case and to learn more about hiring a Lake Charles Social Security Disability attorney to represent you in your claim for Social Security Disability benefits.
