Modesto Social Security Attorney
Modesto, CA is located in northern California about 100 miles east of San Francisco. It has a population of about 215,000 and is situated in rich farming country. It is the county seat of Stanislaus County, California, a county that relies heavily on agriculture, producing milk, walnuts, almonds, cattle, and chickens. Modesto was founded in 1870 and incorporated in 1884. The city began as a railroad stop, but with dams installed in the area and irrigation becoming possible, the area’s agribusinesses flourished.
The top employers other than agriculture are E & J Gallo Winery, the city’s school system, the two medical centers, Seneca Foods, Del Monte Foods, Modesto Junior College, Stanislaus Food Products, Kaiser Permanente, and the city itself.
Residents enjoy a minor league baseball team, the musical performances and independent films offered by downtown’s State Theater, a symphony orchestra, and the Modesto Band of Stanislaus County, known as MoBand for short, which performs summertime concerts in the park.
Modesto native George Lucas set his film American Graffitti in his hometown, although he was denied permission to make the film in Modesto. Each June, the city hosts a month-long celebration of the film. Called Graffiti Nights, the festival includes a showcase of classic and antique cars and attracts thousands of tourists.
Modesto also sponsors music festivals, including Summerfest, the Downtown Summer Concert Series, and the largest of the festivals, the annual X-fest, a rowdy outdoor event that draws crowds in the thousands and generates funds for local non-profit charities.
Over half of Modesto’s residents are Latino. The next largest ethnic group is Caucasian, followed by a much smaller proportion of Asian and other ethnic groups. 31% of the city is aged 45 or older, and 22% of the children and 7% of the elderly live below the poverty line. Of the Modesto residents who receive Social Security benefits, 18% are disabled.
Applying for Modesto Social Security Disability Benefits
If you are disabled, you may qualify for governmental assistance if your disability has lasted at least 12 months, or if your doctor has told you your disability will last at least 12 months, and if your disability keeps you from working. Because the process of applying for disability benefits can be frustrating, hiring a Modesto Social Security Disability lawyer for an initial consultation is a good idea. A qualified Modesto Social Security lawyer can tell you whether or not your disability is likely to be approved for disability benefits. In addition, a Modesto disability lawyer can give you an idea of what the application process is like and what sort of benefits you are likely to receive if your application is approved.
Hiring a Modesto Disability Attorney
If you decide to get help when filing for disability benefits, your Modesto Social Security attorney can be a lot of help to you both in filling out your initial application and in helping you assemble all of the medical documentation you will need to file with your application. This medical documentation is extremely important, as it provides proof of the onset, severity, and response to treatment for your disability. Obtaining these records can be a time consuming and frustrating process, especially if you have difficulty with medical terminology. Your Modesto Social Security Disability attorney can help you by making the calls necessary to get the medical records you need and by making sure the correct medical records are produced by your medical providers. Your Modesto disability attorney will also keep track of filing deadlines.
In addition to help with your application, your Modesto disability lawyer can talk to you about trying to work and about seeing your doctors while your disability case is waiting for review. Another advantage of hiring a Modesto Social Security lawyer is that he or she will know how SSI and SSDI are likely to affect California State Disability benefits and vice versa.
You may find that you must take your case to the appeals level in order to have your claim approved. Your Modesto disability lawyer can represent you before the administrative judge, and because he or she is experienced in the courtroom setting, the preparation for the hearing and the hearing itself need not be quite so overwhelming.
A Modesto Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Stanislaus County, Tuolumme County, Mariposa County, Calaveras County, San Joaquin County, Merced County, Santa Clara County, and Alameda County. Salida, Ripon, Manteca, Escalon, Riverbank, Oakdale, Waterford, Hughson, Ceres, Bystrom, Hickman, Keyes, Turlock, Stockton, Tracy.
