New Orleans Social Security Attorney
Every year, more than two million 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 disabled individuals and, in many cases, may also put significant financial stress on their families. While Social Security Disability benefits are intended to help New Orleans residents who find themselves in such a situation, the fact of the matter is that only 30 percent of the disability applications received by the SSA 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 New Orleans Social Security Disability attorney and appeal the SSA's decision to deny their disability benefits.
The economy of New Orleans is controlled by four major sectors including the oil and gas, tourism, ship and boat building and aerospace manufacturing industries. While education, health care and professional services also play a role, those four major industries are the core of the city's economic well-being. Tourism is one of the primary contributors, with more than 10 million visitors coming to the city on an annual basis. It is estimated that the hospitality industry alone provides more than 66,000 jobs to residents in the New Orleans area. The gross metropolitan product of the area is estimated to be $72.4 billion.
Applying for New Orleans Social Security Disability Benefits
There are approximately 266,000 individuals between the ages of 21 and 64 living in the city of New Orleans. Of these individuals, approximately 63,000 are listed as being disabled. Only about 47 percent of these disabled individuals are able to work and maintain employment. The remaining 53 percent have no means of income, other than Social Security Disability benefits. The average monthly Social Security Disability benefits payment 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 356 days for a disability claim to be processed in New Orleans. This means that most applicants will wait nearly a year before seeing a single payment from the SSA.
Why does it take so long for applicants to be awarded 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 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 New Orleans Disability Attorney
The most effective way to avoid a long disability claim process is to provide the SSA with as much evidence as possible with your initial claim for benefits. A New Orleans Social Security Disability lawyer can help you gather the evidence necessary to do this. If, for some reason, your initial claim is not approved by the SSA, a New Orleans Social Security attorney can help you file an appeal to overturn the SSA's decision.
If your initial application for disability benefits has been denied, it is crucial that you meet with a New Orleans Social Security lawyer as soon as possible. You have only 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 New Orleans disability attorney, he or she will review your disability case and will help you determine what additional evidence may be needed to support your disability claim. If necessary, your lawyer may gather additional statements from treating physicians and may even obtain expert witness testimony.
Your New Orleans Social Security Disability attorney will also help you prepare for your hearing before the Administrative Law Judge. The hearing stage of the appeal process is when you have the highest chance of being awarded benefits. Nearly two-thirds of applicants receive a favorable decision as a result of their disability hearings. 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 New Orleans Social Security Disability lawyer, even though you are not required to do so by the SSA. If, for some reason, you are not awarded benefits at the hearing stage of the disability appeal process, your New Orleans Social Security attorney can discuss the next step of the appeal process with you.
If hiring a New Orleans disability attorney makes such a difference, why doesn't everyone have an attorney representing them at the disability hearing? Many people are under the impression that they can't afford proper legal representation. This couldn't be further from the truth. Disability attorneys work on a contingency basis. If you do not win your disability case, your lawyer does not get paid. Your lawyer is paid a percentage of the back payment you are awarded by the SSA. Disability attorneys receive either 25 percent of a client's back payment amount or $6,000 (whichever is less). If you are awarded $20,000 in back payments, your attorney receives $5,000 of that back payment amount. If you are awarded $40,000 in back payments, your attorney receives only $6,000 and not the full 25 percent. If you are not awarded benefits, your New Orleans disability lawyer does not get paid.
Click here if you would like to receive a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case and to learn more about hiring a New Orleans Social Security Disability attorney to represent you in your disability claim.
A New Orleans Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Orleans County, Saint Bernard County, Plaquemines County, Jefferson County, Saint Tammany County: Chalmette, Meraux, Gretna, Marrero, Metairie, River Ridge, Kenner, Waggaman, Luling, Laplace, St. Rose, Westwego, Woodmere, Violet.
