Peoria Social Security Attorney
Imagine that one day you are able to do your job, earn an income and make ends meet. Then, without warning, you are faced with a long-term or permanent disability that prevents you from maintaining your job or earning any pay. To make matters worse, you suddenly begin incurring disability-related medical expenses that you have no way of paying. What would you do? How would you survive? It is in circumstances such as these that Social Security Disability benefits are intended to help. Unfortunately, actually getting the benefits you need may not be as easy as one would think. If you live in the Peoria, Illinois area and are considering a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, you should consider consulting with a Peoria Social Security attorney before filing your disability claim.
Peoria is located in the center of a very fertile agricultural region. The area's main crops consist of corn and soybeans. The export of livestock also plays a role in the area's economic well-being. However, agriculture is not the only factor in the economic climate of the city. Coal fields surround Peoria and it is estimated that these fields hold approximately 150 years of reserves. Manufacturing also plays a major role in the area's economy and the city is home to two of the largest earth-moving equipment makers. These companies make an average of $2 billion in shipments each year. Consumer testing firms such as Nielson Data Markets are also houses one of its six corporate headquarters within the city limits.
Applying for Peoria Social Security Disability Benefits
Peoria is home to more than 180,000 Illinois residents. Approximately 3.5 percent of the residents living in Illinois receive Social Security Disability benefits with an average monthly disability payment of $1,086.30. While statistics indicate that the approval rate in Illinois is higher than the national average at the initial stage of the disability claim process, it will still take a Peoria Social Security Disability applicant an average of 688 days to complete the disability claim process, which is longer than many of the other areas in the nation.
If the initial approval rate for Illinois residents is higher than the national average, why is the average processing time for a Peoria disability application longer? This is due to the significant amount of Social Security Disability cases that are backlogged in the Social Security system. Even though the initial approval rates in Illinois are higher than the national average, more than half of the individuals who submit disability claims to the Social Security Administration are denied benefits during the initial application process. This usually results in the need for a disability hearing. The office in charge of scheduling disability hearings is called the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). It takes the Peoria ODAR office an average of twelve months just to schedule a hearing for a disability applicant before an administrative law judge.
Hiring a Peoria Disability Attorney
Fortunately, working with a Peoria Social Security Disability lawyer can increase your chances of receiving an approval at the initial stage of the application process. The attorney you hire will help you gather the evidence you need to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration. He or she can also help you prepare your application paperwork, ensuring that everything is completed properly. A properly-completed disability application will help the adjudicator reviewing your file understand the extent of your disability and how it interferes with your ability to work, increasing your chances of an approval at the initial application stage.
If, for some reason, you are initially denied disability benefits, your Peoria Social Security attorney can represent you throughout your disability appeal. In most cases, an applicant will need to undergo two stages of the appeal process before being awarded the benefits they need. The first stage is a Request for Reconsideration. Unfortunately, the majority of these requests are denied, resulting in the need for a disability hearing. The disability hearing is the second stage of the appeal process. It is during this stage that you will be able to plead your case to an administrative law judge.
Many disability applicants are happy to hear that nearly two-thirds of disability appeals are won at the hearing stage of the appeal process. It is important to understand, however, that proper legal representation can be crucial to the outcome of your disability case. The disability laws are constantly changing and your Peoria disability attorney will know how the current laws affect your case and will be able to handle your hearing properly. Your attorney will also be able to provide the administrative law judge with additional medical evidence and expert testimonies in addition to preparing you for your hearing on a personal level.
A Peoria Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Peoria County, Woodford County, Marshall County, Tazewell County, Fulton County, Knox County, and Stark County: Washington, Eureka, Metamora, Chillcothe, Princeville, Elmwood, Farmington, Canton, Menito, Morton, Bartonville, Lewiston, Delavan, Normal, Bloomington, and Pekin.,
