Seattle Social Security Attorney
This year the SSA will receive more than two million Social Security Disability applications. Of these, it is estimated that only 30 to 40 percent will be approved at the initial stage of the application process. What happens to the remaining 60 to 70 percent? Those applicants must go on to file an appeal in order to receive disability benefits. If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits in the Seattle area, you should consider retaining the services of a Seattle Social Security attorney to increase your chances of a success resolution of your disability claim.
Seattle's four-county metropolitan region is home to approximately 3.5 million individuals and nearly 2 million jobs. The largest employer in the city is the University of Washington, employing more than 28,000 individuals and posting an annual revenue of $3.7 billion. The University of Washington plays a major role in the area's economy, influencing the healthcare, biotechnology, research and IT sectors. The healthcare industry plays a primary role in Seattle's economy, providing area residents with 96,000 jobs and contributing nearly $10 billion each year to the city's economy. The Seattle area is also home to ten Fortune 500 companies and has a gross metropolitan product of approximately $218.8 billion.
Applying for Seattle Social Security Disability Benefits
There are approximately 50,817 individuals in Seattle receiving Social Security benefits and 11,933 individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The average monthly SSDI benefit in the State of Washington is $1,077.30. The average time it takes to process a claim for Social Security Disability benefits in Seattle is 567 days. While it usually only takes three to four months to complete the initial application process for disability benefits, the appeal process takes much longer. This is why many Seattle residents wait nearly two years before receiving the benefits they so desperately need. Hiring a Seattle Social Security Disability attorney may increase your chances of a successful appeal and may result in a faster approval of your disability benefits claim.
Filing an application for Social Security Disability benefits can be an overwhelming and confusing process. If you do not provide the SSA with the right information or do not present the information properly, your request for Social Security Disability benefits is likely to be denied. This is why so many people are denied benefits in the initial stage. To increase your chances of a successful application, you should consider hiring a Seattle Social Security Disability lawyer. A attorney can help you prepare your application for benefits properly and may increase your chances of obtaining an approval at the initial stage.
If your application for benefits is denied at the initial stage, a Seattle disability attorney can increase your chances of a successful appeal. Almost all denied Social Security Disability claims must go to the hearing stage of the appeal process. At this hearing, your disability claim will be reviewed by an Administrative Law Judge. Your Seattle disability lawyer can present your case in the best light possible before the judge, thereby increasing your chances of a favorable decision. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of appeals are granted at this stage of the process. Statistics have shown that individuals who have legal representation during their disability hearing are more likely to be awarded benefits than those who do not.
Hiring a Seattle Disability Attorney
If you have already filed your application for disability benefits and have been denied, it is imperative that you contact a Seattle Social Security attorney as quickly as possible to appeal the SSA's decision. You only have 60 days from the date you receive the notice to appeal the decision and your attorney will need to get started on gathering the information needed to win your disability case. Your Seattle Social Security lawyer will gather the medical evidence necessary to prove your disability and will turn to expert testimony, if needed, to strengthen your case. He or she will also be able to advise you as to what you should expect during the hearing process and how you should respond to the judge.
Seattle disability attorneys work on contingency basis. Your attorney will receive either 25 percent of the back pay you receive from the SSA or $6,000 (whichever is less). If you do not win your case, your attorney will not be paid. Because an attorney has a personal interest in winning your case, he or she may not take your case there is not enough evidence to warrant your claim.
If you would like to receive a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case or if you would like to learn more about hiring a Seattle Social Security attorney, click here.
A Norfolk Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in King County, Pierce County, Kitsap County, Island County, and Snohomish County: Kirkland, Bellevue, Shoreline, Edmonds, Everett, Bothel, Redmond, Sammamish, White Center, Mercer Island, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, Tacoma, and Auburn.
