Schenectady Social Security Attorney
Applying for Schenectady Social Security Disability Benefits
In 2012 the Social Security Administration is expected to receive more than 3 million claims for Social Security Disability benefits. Of all of the claims that will be received, only about 30 to 40 percent will be approved during the initial stage of the application process if history is any indication of future approval rates. Hiring a Schenectady Social Security Disability attorney can help increase your chances of receiving an approval of your initial disability application. If, for some reason, your disability claim is not approved during the initial stage of the application process, your Schenectady Social Security Disability lawyer can work to increase your chances of filing a successful Social Security Disability appeal.
While Schenectady is not one of the better-known cities in the State of New York, the history of its economy is not a trivial one. The city was once home to what is now General Electric and the American Locomotive Company. In the middle of the 20th century, the city began to experience significant financial hardships. Over the years, however, Schenectady has slowly been recovering from its economic setbacks. The unemployment rate of the city is 7.5 percent, compared to a national average of 9.10 percent, and the median household income in Schenectady is approximately $36,000.
There are more than 151,000 New York residents living in Schenectady. The Social Security Administration currently provides Social Security Disability benefits to approximately four percent of New York’s population. The average monthly benefit amount for a New York Social disability recipient is $1,112.50 per month. In order to qualify for this monthly benefit payment, an individual must suffer from a disability that prevents them from earning a substantial gainful income and that disability must be expected to last at least one year or longer. The disabled individual must also have earned enough “work credits” to qualify them for SSDI benefits. If a person has not earned enough work credits to qualify for SSDI, they may be able to qualify for Social Security's SSI needs-based disability program.
The process of filing a Social Security Disability claim can be overwhelming and complex. If the right information is not provided or if the SSA does not receive sufficient medical evidence then your application will not be approved during the initial stage of the claim process. Due to the complex nature of applying for these benefits, it is not surprising that nearly 70 percent of the Social Security Disability applications that are filed in New York each year are not approved at the initial application stage. Fortunately, working with a Schenectady Social Security Disability attorney can help increase your chances of being awarded disability benefits.
Hiring a Schenectady Social Security Attorney
When you retain the services of a Schenectady Social Security attorney, the lawyer you choose will help you prepare your disability claim forms, ensuring that the forms are filled out properly and that you have enough medical evidence to support your case for benefits. This will ensure that you present your claim to the SSA in the best light possible and will increase your chance of approval at the initial stage of the application process.
If, for some reason, you are denied disability benefits in your initial application, your Schenectady Social Security lawyer can help you through each stage of the disability appeal process. Statistics show that individuals who have legal representation during a disability appeal are more likely to be awarded benefits than claimants who are not represented by an attorney. The longer you wait to hire a Schenectady disability attorney, the harder it may become for your attorney to win your Social Security Disability case for you.
If you have already filed your Social Security Disability application and that application has been denied, you should consult with a Schenectady Social Security Disability attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will begin working on your appeal and will file your Request for Reconsideration, which is the first stage of the appeal process. While you can technically file this appeal yourself, you should have an attorney working on your case as early in the game as possible to increase your chance of success.
In some cases, your Schenectady Social Security attorney may forgo the reconsideration request state of appeals altogether. In the state of New York your lawyer is able to file for a disability hearing as soon as your initial claim has been denied. This can take a good six months or more off of the time it takes for you to obtain benefits, so you may want to discuss this option with your lawyer.
When you are scheduled for a Social Security Disability hearing, it is crucial that you have a Schenectady disability attorney representing you. Statistics show that your chances of being awarded benefits as a result of this hearing are significantly higher with legal representation.
Click here to request a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case and to learn more about hiring a Schenectady disability lawyer to represent you in your Social Security Disability claim.
