Washington D.C. Social Security Attorney
Thousands of Washington D.C. residents have money taken out of their paychecks to pay for Social Security taxes. These hard-working individuals pay these taxes willingly, assuming that Social Security Disability benefits will be there for them if they ever need them. Unfortunately, when a disabling condition occurs and these residents go on to file a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, they are denied more often than not. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 70 percent of applicants are denied the disability benefits they apply for at the initial stage of the application process. In most cases, hiring a Washington Social Security attorney can help to improve your chances of receiving the disability benefits you need when an unexpected disability arises.
The economy of Washington D.C. is quite diverse, with the federal government accounting for more than one-quarter of the city's jobs. The estimated gross state product of Washington was approximately $97 billion in 2008. A large number of trade unions, law firms, non-profit organizations and lobbying firms headquarter their operations in Washington in order to be near to the federal government. Contrary to popular belief, however, the government is not the only contributing factor to Washington D.C.'s economy. The finance, education and scientific research fields are a growing part of the city's economy. There are also two Fortune 500 companies based out of Washington and the city's business real estate market is third in the nation, right under New York and Chicago.
Applying for Washington D.C. Social Security Disability Benefits
There are approximately 550,000 individuals living in the District of Columbia. Of those 550,000 residents, there are estimated to be approximately 116,000 disabled individuals. Surprisingly, only about 13,000 of these disabled individuals actually receive Social Security Disability benefits. The average amount of time it takes for an applicant to go through the Social Security Disability claim process is 330 days. While this is quite low compared to the rest of the country, it still means that most applicants will need to wait about a year before they begin receiving payments from Social Security. This is largely due to the fact that the majority of applications are denied at the initial stage of the application process and most individuals will have to go on to file an appeal in order to receive the benefits they are entitled to. Fortunately, hiring a Washington D.C. Social Security lawyer can increase a person's chances of receiving a favorable decision on their disability benefit claim.
Hiring a Washington D.C. Disability Attorney
A Washington Social Security Disability lawyer will help you to gather the information needed to file a successful claim for disability benefits, and he or she can help you present your application to the Social Security Administration properly. Should your initial application for benefits be denied, your Washington disability attorney can help you file an appeal. In such a case, make sure you contact a D.C. disability lawyer as soon as possible, as you only have 60 days from the date of your determination letter to appeal the Social Security Administration's decision and your lawyer will need as much time as possible to gather the necessary evidence and submit the proper disability appeal paperwork.
When hiring a Washington Social Security attorney, the first thing your lawyer will do is determine whether or not you meet the Social Security Administration's qualifying criteria. He or she will discuss your disability and work history with you. After reviewing your claim, your Washington Social Security lawyer will decide which, if any, Social Security Disability benefit program you may qualify for. If you have earned enough work credits, you should apply for SSDI benefits. If you have not earned enough work credits, but meet certain income restrictions, you may be able to qualify for SSI payments.
If you are denied disability benefits at the initial stage of the Social Security application process, your attorney will file the necessary appeal paperwork. The first step of the appeal process is a request for reconsideration. Unfortunately this step is usually nothing more than a formality as more than 80 percent of appeals are denied at this stage. If your request for reconsideration is denied, your Washington D.C. Social Security Disability attorney will go on to file a request for a hearing before an administrative law judge. Fortunately, nearly two-thirds of appeals are decided in favor of the applicant at this stage of appeals process. Having proper legal representation and working with a Washington Social Security Disability lawyer can increase your chances of a successful outcome at a disability hearing.
If you are interested in obtaining an evaluation of your Social Security Disability case, click here for your free Social Security Disability evaluation or to get more information about hiring a Washington D.C. disability attorney.
A Washington D.C. Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Washington D.C., Fairfax County, VA, Montgomery County, MD, and Prince George's County, MD: Arlington, McLean, Langley, Annandale, Jefferson, Falls Church, Fairfax, Burke, Springfield, Mt. Vernon, Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, Chillum, Hyattsville, Bladensburg, Lanham-Seabrook, and Bowie.
