Lakewood Social Security Attorney
Lakewood, California sits in Los Angeles county and is sometimes called “instant city” due to how quickly it sprouted up. Lakewood is a planned community, and it’s residents enjoy pleasant tree-lined streets. Lakewood was the first city in the nation to contract out all of its municipal services.
The average annual income of the approximately 80,000 Lakewood residents is $58,214, and the cost of living in Lakewood is a whopping 42% higher than the average nationwide. The education and social service sectors play a strong part in the Lakewood economy, with many Lakewood residents working for the City of Lakewood, Albertson’s, the Long Beach Unified School District, the Los Angeles Department of Children & Family Services, and the ABC Unified School District.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA,) approximately 3 percent of the California population is currently receiving Social Security disability benefits, and their average monthly payment is $1,098. Unfortunately, many of these disabled California workers likely waited two years or more to see a disability payment. There are many more who are currently in the appeals process after having their claim for benefits denied.
Applying for Lakewood Social Security Disability Benefits
That’s because the SSA denies the applications of approximately 70% of those who apply for disability benefits in California. Some of these denied claimants were likely represented, but many who were not could have possibly seen a different outcome had they retained the services of an experienced California Social Security disability attorney. If you’re applying for disability benefits in Lakewood, it can be a wise decision to hire a Lakewood disability lawyer at the very beginning of the disability application process. If you are denied disability, you can file an appeal, called a “Request for Reconsideration.” Only around 10% of claims are approved upon reconsideration. The next step in the Social Security appeals process is to file a “Request for Administrative Law Judge Hearing.” Although around 60% of California disability hearings turn out in the claimant’s favor, the wait for a hearing to be scheduled is usually very long. The SSA office that schedules these hearings for Lakewood, California disability applicants is located in Los Angeles, California. The average wait for a hearing out of this office is around 329 days. This doesn’t even include the four to eight months that it took for the initial and reconsideration level decisions to be issued. It can be very stressful and frustrating for a disabled worker to survive on little or no income while going through this lengthy appeals process. It’s very important to be well-prepared for your California disability hearing. This is your chance to explain first-hand why you’re unable to work, and a Lakewood disability attorney can help you prepare to state your case in the most convincing manner possible. It’s also important to present the judge with relevant objective evidence, such as medical records and statements from your doctors. A Lakewood Social Security attorney is experienced in reviewing medical evidence and can highlight any entries that are especially important. The SSA has a specific definition of “disabled,” and a knowledgeable Lakewood Social Security attorney knows how to use the evidence in your file to demonstrate how you meet this criteria.
Hiring a Lakwood Disability Attorney
Money is understandably a top consideration for many Lakewood disability applicants. Luckily, there’s no upfront cost to hire a Lakewood, California disability attorney. Lakewood Social Security lawyers are paid on a contingent fee basis, meaning that they are only paid in the event that you’re awarded benefits (and if you’re disability claim isn’t granted, they don’t get paid.) If your claim is approved, their fee will be equal to 25% of your past-due benefits, up to $6,000. A Lakewood, Oregon, Social Security disability lawyer will also handle claims for those residing in nearby cities such as Douglas Junction, Bellflower, North Long Beach, California Heights, Clearwater, and neighboring Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino, and Kern counties.
