Minneapolis Social Security Attorney
The Social Security Administration receives approximately 3 million claims for Social Security Disability benefits each year. Many of the applicants who submit claims to the SSA do so assuming that they will be approved for benefits within a few short months and do not foresee any complications. Unfortunately, that is rarely how it works. The fact of the matter is that the SSA denies approximately 70 percent of the claims it receives each year. If your application for disability benefits is denied during the initial stage of the application process, hiring a Minneapolis Social Security Disability attorney can increase your chances of winning an appeal.
Minneapolis is located on both banks of the Mississippi River and adjoins with St. Paul. The location of the two cities has given them the nickname, “The Twin Cities,” and the area plays a large role in the economy of Minnesota. In fact, the Twin Cities make up more than 60 percent of the state's gross state product. The economy of Minneapolis is quite diverse, although there is a heavy influence of commerce, finance, health care, rail and trucking services and industry. Milling, food processing, publishing and graphics arts also play a role in the city's finances. Minneapolis is home to five Fortune 500 company headquarters including Target Corporation, Xcel Energy, U.S. Bancorp and Ameriprise Financial. While the government provides the city with many of its jobs, Target Corporation, Wells Fargo and the Star Tribune are also major employers in the area. In 2005, Minneapolis was named the Top Tech City in the United States by Popular Science Magazine. In 2006, Kiplinger's poll of Smart Places to Live ranked the city as second-best in the nation. The gross metropolitan product of Minneapolis is estimated to be approximately $146 billion.
Applying for Minneapolis Social Security Disability Benefits
There are approximately 3.3 million individuals living in the State of Minnesota. It is estimated that approximately 113,000 of them receive Social Security Disability benefits. In Minneapolis alone, approximately 28,000 individuals receive Social Security income and approximately 7,000 residents receive Supplemental Security Income. Many of the individuals receiving disability benefits have had to go through the extensive appeals process in order to obtain the benefits to which they are entitled. It is estimated that only 30 percent of applicants are approved at the initial stage of the application process when applying for disability benefits.
For individuals living in Minneapolis, it takes an average of 534 days to be approved for disability benefits. While the initial application process takes only three to four months to complete, those filing appeals often wait more than a year to receive a day in court before an Administrative Law Judge. Fortunately, once that day arrives, nearly two-thirds of applicants are awarded benefits as a result of the hearing.
Hiring a Minneapolis Disability Attorney
When appealing the SSA's decision to deny disability benefits, it is crucial that you work with a Minneapolis Social Security Disability lawyer. Statistics have shown that applicants who work with a Minneapolis Social Security attorney are more likely to win an appeal than applicants who represent themselves. A Minneapolis Social Security lawyer will help you gather the evidence necessary to prove your case to the SSA and will prepare you for your hearing before the Administrative Law Judge.
The appeal process can be confusing and overwhelming if you do not bring legal representation with you. While two-thirds of applicants are awarded benefits as a result of their disability hearing, this may be due to the fact that many of them bring a Minneapolis disability attorney with them to represent them in their claim.
If you have not yet filed an application for disability benefits, you may want to consider hiring a Minneapolis Social Security Disability attorney prior to filing your claim. Your attorney can help you present your application in the best light possible, improving your chances of being awarded benefits at the initial application stage.
If you have already been denied Social Security Disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process, it is crucial that you discuss your disability case with a Minneapolis Social Security Disability lawyer. Your attorney should begin the appeal process as soon as possible. The longer it takes you to file an appeal, the longer you will have to wait to receive the benefits to which you may be entitled.
Fortunately, hiring a Minneapolis Social Security attorney doesn't have to put an added financial stress on you or your family. Disability attorneys work on a “contingency” basis, which means they do not get paid unless you win your disability claim. The amount your Minneapolis Social Security lawyer will be paid will depend on how much back pay you are awarded by the Social Security Administration. Your lawyer will receive either 25 percent of your back payment amount or $6,000 (whichever is less).
Click here if you would like to request a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case and to learn more about hiring a Minneapolis disability lawyer to represent you in your disability claim.
A Minneapolis Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Anoka County, Wright County, Carver County, Scott County, and Dakota County: St. Paul, Minnetonka, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Bloomington, Burnsville, Eagan, Apply Valley, Roseville, Stillwater, Cottage Grove, St. Cloud, and North Branch.
