Philadelphia Social Security Attorney
Each year millions of Americans become disabled. Unfortunately, a disability that prevents you from working can take a serious financial toll on you and your family. Without a source of income, it can be nearly impossible to pay your bills. Fortunately, Social Security Disability benefits can offset some of the financial burden that has been caused by your condition. The problem is that only about 30 percent of disability claims are approved at the initial stage of the application process. To improve your chances of a successful disability claim you should consider hiring an experienced Philadelphia Social Security lawyer.
Philadelphia's economy has traditionally been centered on manufacturing and distribution. However, since the end of World War II, the industrial influence on Philadelphia's economy has steadily declined. Today, Philadelphia's economy is more diverse and education, health, technology, finance, insurance, printing and publishing and telecommunications are taking a leading role on the impact of the city's economy. Currently, the health field accounts for 18 percent of the city's employment opportunities and the education field accounts for 12 percent. Philadelphia's gross metropolitan product is estimated to be approximately $355 billion.
In 2006 there were approximately 554,000 households living in Philadelphia, with a total population of approximately 1.4 million. It is estimated that 20 percent of Philadelphia residents between the ages of five and sixty-four years of age have reported a disability. The State of Pennsylvania as a whole has a population of approximately 7.78 million, with 4.8 percent of the population receiving disability benefits.
Applying for Philadelphia Social Security Disability Benefits
If you live in the Philadelphia area and have suffered a disability, you may be wondering whether or not you can qualify for benefits. In order to qualify for benefits you need to suffer from a qualifying disability that is expected to last twelve months or longer and you must prove that your disability prevents you from performing substantial gainful work activity. It is important to remember that nearly 70 percent of disability applications are denied at the initial stage of the application process. If your application is among them, you should consider the services of a Philadelphia Social Security Disability attorney to increase your chances of filing a successful appeal to receive disability benefits.
A Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyer can help you prepare your disability application, gathering the evidence needed to support your claim for benefits. If your initial claim for disability benefits has been denied, your Philadelphia disability attorney can aid you through the appeal process.
The disability appeal process can take years. Hiring a Philadelphia Social Security attorney can help increase your chances of winning your appeal earlier on in the process. Your attorney will file a timely appeal, gather the necessary medical evidence to prove your disability case and will help to prepare you for your hearing, if necessary. The disability hearing is an important part of the appeals process. Nearly two-thirds of the individuals who attend their disability hearings go on to be approved for benefits. Your Philadelphia Social Security lawyer will counsel you regarding how you should act at your disability hearing, what questions will be asked and how you should respond.
Hiring a Philadelphia Disability Attorney
While the SSA does not require that you have a lawyer representing you at the hearing, statistics show that applicants who have an attorney representing them at this stage of the appeal process are more likely to win the appeal. If you would like to increase your chances of a favorable outcome at this stage, you should have a Philadelphia Social Security Disability attorney representing you. Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyers are knowledgeable about the ever-changing disability laws and your Philadelphia Social Security attorney will understand how the facts pertaining to your case are affected by the laws in place. Because of this, your Philadelphia disability attorney will be better able to present your case in the best light possible to the Administrative Law Judge who oversees the hearing.
If you are disabled and are considering an application for disability benefits, or if you have been denied at the initial application stage, you should contact a Philadelphia disability lawyer to discuss the strength of your disability case and to see what you can do to increase your chances of receiving benefits.
Click here if you would like to request a free evaluation of your case and to learn more about hiring a Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyer to represent you.
A Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Philadelphia County, Bucks County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County: Camden, Landsdowne, Drexel Hill, Springfield, Broomall, Ardmore, Conshohocken, Jenkintown, Glenside, Willow Grove, Bridgeport, King of Prussia, Norristown, Horsham, Willow Grove, West Chester, and Downingtown.
