Tacoma Social Security Attorney
Tacoma, WA is located on Puget Sound, about 30 miles southwest of Seattle. Its population hovers around 200,000, making it the third largest city in Washington. Residents enjoy a spectacular view of Mount Rainier, 58 miles to the southeast. Mount Rainier was originally named Mount Tacoma, and the city took its name from the mountain.
Tacoma has long been a transportation center, first by being located on Puget Sound and then by being the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The Port of Tacoma is very active in international trade. Tacoma’s economy declined in the middle 1900s, but since 1990 the city has worked to re-establish and re-invent itself through investment in its infrastructure, including installing the first modern electric light rail service in Washington, restoring the Thea Foss Waterway, bringing The University of Washington – Tacoma to the city, and sponsoring several museums. The city is still primarily industrial, however, being home to Simpson lumber company, Roman Meal food company, and U.S. Oil and Refining. Most workers are and have been railroad workers, longshoremen, and factory workers, reflecting the major economic forces in the city.
In addition to the Washington State History Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum, the and the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Tacoma’s residents enjoy outdoor life along Ruston Way, which links many of the city’s parks with a multi-use trail that runs along a beach used by walkers, runners, and bicyclists. There are areas along the beach suitable for scuba divers and dog owners have an off leash dog park where they can let their pets run free.
Caucasians are the majority ethnic group in Tacoma, followed by African Americans and Latinos. Those who are age 45 or older make up 32% of the population. Of those living below the poverty line, 16% are children and 11% are seniors. Of those who receive Social Security benefits, 16% are disabled.
Applying for Tacoma Social Security Disability Benefits
In order to receive disability benefits from Social Security, your disability must have lasted at least 12 months, or it must be expected to last at least 12 months. In addition, your disability must keep you from working. Your diagnosis and the severity of your disability, as well as your treatment program and how you have responded to treatment, must all be proved in the medical records you submit with your disability benefits application. A Tacoma Social Security Disability lawyer can be a great help with this process.
After you submit your application, you must wait for it to be processed. Some disability benefits applicants wonder if they can do any sort of work while their case is being considered. Others want to stop seeing doctors, especially when there is no improvement in their condition and no improvement is expected. These two areas can cause trouble for a Social Security Disability applicant, and it is a good idea to consult with a Tacoma Social Security lawyer before making any decisions, as your decision may have a major impact on your case.
Over 60% of disability claims are rejected when they are first submitted. In fact, most applications go through two or more levels of appeals. If you are dealing with a severe disability, this process can be frustrating and exhausting. It can be a great comfort to hand off the details, the deadlines, and the technical requirements to a disability lawyer. It can alleviate stress to know that he or she will handle your disability claim while you attend to your health. It is not uncommon for an initial denial to be overturned at the appeals level, especially if it is presented by a disability lawyer.
Hiring a Tacoma Disability Attorney
Once you have hired a Tacoma Social Security attorney, he or she can explain the disability application and appeals process to you. Your Tacoma disability attorney can tell you what actions on your part will hurt or help your claim and can also help you remember deadlines and gather information.
If your claim is appealed, your Tacoma Social Security Disability attorney can explain your situation to the judge in the form of an opening statement, call and question witnesses on your behalf, and present any new information that may have come to light concerning your disability.
A Tacoma Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Pierce County, King County, Thurston County, Kitsap County, Mason County, Lewis County, and Yakima County: Fircrest, Artondale, Ruston, University Place, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Puyallop, Parkland, Spanaway, Federal Way, Fort Lewis, Seattle, Auburn, and Kent.
