Portland Social Security Attorney
Each and every year more than two million Americans apply for Social Security Disability benefits. These individuals often face severe financial hardship. Unable to work or generate an income, the bills begin to quickly pile up. Medical expenses related to the disability only add to the financial burden. To make matters worse, the majority of Social Security Disability applications are denied in the initial stage of the application process. In fact, it has been estimated that approximately 70 percent of initial applications for disability benefits are denied by the Social Security Administration. If you live in the Portland, Oregon area and are applying for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, you may want to consider hiring a Portland Social Security attorney to increase your chances of receiving the disability benefits you need.
Manufacturing is the core of Portland's economy, with Intel being the area's largest employer. Intel provides Portland-area residents with more than 14,000 jobs. There are more than 1,200 technology companies located in the Portland metro area, giving the city the nickname the Silicon Forest. Sporting good manufacturers also contribute to the city's economy, with Adidas, Nike, and Columbia Sportswear all being headquartered in the city. The steel industry has also been an important part of the Portland economy throughout the city's history. Portland's gross metropolitan product is estimated to be approximately $22 billion.
Oregon is home to more than 2.4 million residents. Of these residents, approximately 93,000 receive Social Security benefits in the State of Oregon. In the city of Portland there are approximately 49,000 individuals receiving Social Security income and about 9,000 individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits. The average Social Security benefit payment in the State of Oregon is $1,067.50. Even though the initial application process for Social Security Disability benefits is only three to four months, it takes an average of 679 days for Portland residents to go through the Social Security Disability application process. This means that the average disability applicant must wait nearly two years before they begin receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. This is largely due to the fact that the majority of applications are denied at the initial stage of the application process.
Applying for Portland Social Security Disability Benefits
If you live in the Portland area and have suffered a disability, you may be wondering whether or not you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. If you are going to apply for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, you should consider retaining the services of a Portland Social Security lawyer to improve your chances of a successful application for benefits or, if necessary, a successful disability appeal.
A Portland Social Security Disability attorney can help you prepare your application for disability benefits, gathering the information and medical evidence necessary to support your disability claim. If your initial application is denied, your disability lawyer can help you file an appeal and will represent you during the different stages of the Social Security Disability appeal process.
If you are denied benefits in the initial stage of the application process, your Portland disability attorney will need to file a request for reconsideration. Unfortunately, more than 80 percent of appeals are denied at this stage of the process. This means that your lawyer will likely have to request a hearing before an administrative law judge. If you have not yet hired a Portland disability lawyer to represent you at this stage of the appeal process, now is the time to do so. Your chances of receiving a favorable decision as a result of your hearing are greatly increased with proper legal representation.
Hiring a Portland Disability Attorney
The disability appeal process can take years and the turnaround time in Portland is worse than many other areas of the United States. Hiring a Social Security attorney to represent you in your appeal may increase your chances of winning your appeal earlier on in the appeal process. Your lawyer will help you file timely appeals and will gather all of the evidence needed to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration. The good news is that nearly two-thirds of applicants will be awarded benefits at the hearing stage of the appeal process. Your chances of a favorable hearing outcome are significantly increased with proper legal representation.
Oregon disability attorneys have expert knowledge in the ever-changing Social Security Disability laws, and your Portland lawyer will understand how the facts pertaining to your disability case are affected by the laws that are currently in place. Because of this, your Social Security attorney will be better able to present your case in the best light possible for the administrative law judge who is overseeing your disability hearing.
Click here if you would like to request a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case, or to learn more about hiring a Portland Social Security Disability lawyer to represent you in your disability claim.
A Portland Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Multnomah County, Columbia County, Washington, Klackamas County, and Hood River: Tigard, Beaverton, Milwaukie, Gresham, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, West Linn, Sunnyside, Clackamas, and Oak Hills.
