Tampa Social Security Attorney
Thousands of Tampa residents pay taxes to the government's Social Security program out of each and every paycheck they receive. These hard-working Tampa residents assume that Social Security Disability benefits will be there if they need them. After all, if you pay into the system, the system should do what it promises when the need arises. Unfortunately, things do not always work the way they should. The fact of the matter is that 70 percent of Social Security Disability applications are denied each year. What happens to applicants who are denied disability benefits by the Social Security Administration? Can anything be done to increase your chances of being approved for disability payments? In many cases, hiring a Tampa Social Security Disability attorney can help.
The Tampa area benefits from a diverse economy, with the retail, service, finance, insurance, shopping, national defense, sports, real estate and tourism industries all playing important roles in the financial well-being of the city. Many major corporations have regional offices in Tampa and the city is home to several Fortune 1000 companies such as Walter Energy, OSI Restaurant Partners and Raymond James Financial. MacDill Air Force Base is also a major area employer, with more than 15,000 active uniformed military personnel being installed there. Tampa's gross metropolitan product is estimated to be approximately $73 billion.
Applying for Tampa Social Security Disability Benefits
There are approximately 340,000 residents living in Tampa. Of these residents, more than 67,000 are listed as being disabled. Tampa has one of the longest average processing times in the nation when it comes to disability claims. It takes an average of 682 days for applicants to go through the disability claim process in Tampa. While the initial application process takes only three to four months, only about 30 percent of applications are approved during this stage. The remaining 70 percent of applicants must file an appeal in order to be approved for Social Security Disability payments. This means obtaining a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Because these judges have such a large backlog of cases, it takes Tampa residents more than a year to get a hearing.
When an applicant has to wait more than a year to have his or her case heard before an Administrative Law Judge, it is crucial that everything goes perfectly when that day arrives. The last thing you want to do is wait that long, only to have your disability benefits claim denied. This is why hiring a Tampa Social Security attorney is crucial to the success of your disability case.
Hiring a Tampa Disability Attorney
A Tampa disability attorney can help you gather the information that is needed to file a successful claim for disability benefits and will help you present your application to the SSA in the best light possible. If your initial application for disability benefits is denied by the SSA, a Tampa disability lawyer can help you file a successful disability appeal in order to obtain the benefits to which you are rightfully entitled.
If your application for Social Security Disability benefits has already been denied, time is of the essence. You need to contact a Tampa Social Security Disability attorney as soon as possible to appeal the SSA's decision to deny your benefits. You have only 60 days from the date the SSA denies your application to file an appeal. You will want to give your lawyer as much time as possible to gather the evidence necessary to support your claim and submit the proper paperwork to the SSA.
When hiring a Tampa Social Security Disability lawyer, the first thing your lawyer will do is determine whether or not you meet the SSA's qualifying criteria. Your lawyer will discuss your work history and the details regarding your disability. After your Tampa Social Security attorney has reviewed your claim for benefits, he or she will decide for which program you may qualify. For example, if you have a disability that meet's the SSA's guidelines but not enough work credits, you may qualify for SSI payments. If you do have enough work credits, you may qualify for SSDI payments or both SSDI and SSI benefits.
Once your attorney has the information needed to pursue your disability claim, he or she will file the necessary appeal paperwork with the SSA. The first stage of appeals is the Request for Reconsideration. It is important to understand that the majority of appeals are denied at this stage of the appeal process. What you and your lawyer will really be focusing on is the hearing stage of the appeal process. Nearly two-thirds of appeals are decided in favor of the applicant at the hearing stage. Your chances of a successful hearing outcome are significantly increased when you are represented by a Tampa disability attorney.
If you are interested in obtaining an evaluation of your Social Security Disability case, click here for your free Social Security Disability evaluation or for more information about hiring a Tampa disability lawyer.
A Tampa Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Manatee County, and Polk County. Town 'N' Counrty, Egypt Lake-Leto, Brandon, Gibsonton, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Temple Terrace, Mango, Greater Carrollwood, Safety Harbor, Lutz, and Wesley Chapel.
