Wilmington Social Security Attorney
When a disabled Wilmington worker is unable to continue full-time work activity due to a long-term or permanent disability, it can be very hard to make ends meet. These applicants are often entitled to Social Security Disability benefits, but obtaining the benefits they are entitled to receive is not always a simple and straightforward process. The fact of the matter is that while the Social Security Administration receives millions of disability applications each year, approximately 70 percent of these disability claims are denied during the initial stage of the application process. The Wilmington Social Security Disability applicants who are denied disability benefits during the initial application stage must then endure the lengthy and complicated disability appeal process. If you live in the Wilmington area and want to increase your chances of being approved for disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process, or hope to overturn a decision to deny the benefits you need, you need to consult with a Wilmington Social Security Disability attorney.
The economy of Wilmington is primarily driven by the technology industry, although the health care, banking, trade and manufacturing industries also play leading roles in the economic well-being of the city. Some of Wilmington’s top employers include DuPont, AstraZeneca, W.L. Gore and Associates, Hercules, Inc. and Andersen Consulting. There are also more than 49 technology-related companies located in The Delaware Technology Park, which is in close proximity to Wilmington. The median household income in Wilmington is approximately $35,000, which is much lower than the national average. However, the cost of living is 3 percent higher than the national average.
More than half a million people live in the State of Delaware. Of these residents, approximately 4.6 percent receive Social Security Disability payments. The average monthly Delaware Social Security Disability benefit of $1,120.70 can really help a disabled Wilmington worker make ends meet. Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of the disabled workers who apply for these benefits will be denied during the initial stage of the application process, resulting in the need for a disability appeal.
Applying for Wilmington Social Security Disability Benefits
The first stage of appeals for Wilmington Social Security Disability applicants is called a Request for Reconsideration. Once again, the Social Security Administration will deny the majority of these requests. Most Wilmington Social Security Disability applicants must appear before an administrative law judge at a disability hearing in order to obtain the Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income they may be entitled to. The good news is that nearly two-thirds of the Wilmington Social Security Disability applicants who obtain a disability hearing will be awarded benefits at this stage of the appeal process. The bad news is that it takes nearly a year for most Wilmington Social Security Disability applicants to obtain their day in court.
Many Wilmington Social Security Disability applicants want to know why it takes so long to obtain a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. The reason for the excessive wait times is the significant backlog of disability cases in the Social Security system. The offices in charge of scheduling disability hearings fall under the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (also known as ODAR). The area of the nation that you live in is what determines which ODAR office will handle your disability case and how long you will have to wait to have your hearing scheduled. The ODAR office located in Dover is responsible for scheduling the disability hearings for the Social Security field office in Wilmington. It takes this office an average of 352 days to schedule a disability hearing for Wilmington Social Security Disability applicants.
It is understandable that no one wishes to wait more than a year before receiving their first Social Security Disability payment. Many disabled workers rely on these payments to make ends meet and waiting a year or more can wreak financial havoc on a family. Unfortunately, when a Wilmington Social Security Disability applicant has to endure the lengthy disability appeal process, this is exactly what happens. This is why many of these applicants wonder if there is any possible way to avoid the need for a disability appeal.
Hiring a Wilmington Disability Attorney
The only way to avoid the complex and frustrating disability appeal process is to have your initial claim for disability benefits approved by the Social Security Administration. In order to do this, you may want to consider retaining the services of a attorney. Your Wilmington Social Security Disability lawyer will help you complete your disability application and will ensure that your claim is submitted to the Social Security Administration in the best light possible. He or she will also work to gather the medical records that will be necessary to support your claim for disability benefits, ensuring that your claim proves your disability according to the Social Security Administration's standards.
If your Social Security Disability application is denied, your Wilmington Social Security Disability attorney will work with you to appeal the SSA's decision to deny your disability benefits. Your attorney will first file an appeal and will then work to prepare you for your disability hearing. You should ask your lawyer what you should expect at this hearing and your lawyer should advise you as to how to answer the questions presented to you by the Administrative Law Judge.
If you would like to learn more about hiring a Wilmington Social Security Disability attorney, click here to receive a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case.
