Yuma Social Security Attorney
If you are suffering from a long-term or permanent disability and are unable to work due to the limitations that your condition places on you, the financial stress can quickly become overwhelming. Without any means of income, the past-due bills begin to pile up and it suddenly feels like you are in a financial hole with no way of digging yourself out. To make matters worse, disability-related medical expenses only compound the situation. Fortunately, Social Security Disability benefits are meant to help in times such as these. The bad news is that it can take years before a Yuma disability applicant sees their first disability payment from the Social Security Administration. If you want to increase your chances of receiving Social Security Disability benefits more quickly or you wish to overturn a decision by the SSA to deny your initial Social Security Disability claim, the services of a qualified Yuma Social Security Disability attorney may be crucial to the outcome of your efforts.
The economy of Yuma has, for the most part, been based primarily in agriculture and tourism. However, in recent years the economic well-being of the city has also been influenced by the government, educational and medical sectors as well. Some of Yuma's top employers include the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma Regional Medical Center and the area's school districts. The city's median household income is $39,885, which is below the national average of $50,221. However, the cost of living in Yuma is also lower, coming in at approximately 8 percent below the national average.
Applying for Yuma Social Security Disability Benefits
The City of Yuma is home to more than 90,000 Arizona residents. In the State of Arizona, approximately 3.6 percent of the residents receive Social Security Disability benefits. The average benefit amount for these disability recipients is $1,024.00 per month. While this monthly disability payment can help a disabled worker pay the bills, it is important to remember that it will take the average Yuma disability applicant well over a year before seeing his or her first Social Security Disability payment from the Social Security Administration. This is largely due to the fact that the majority of disability claims are denied during the initial stage of the application process, resulting in the need for a disability appeal.
The initial disability claim process only takes three to six months, on average, to complete. However, 70 percent of the disabled workers who file such claims will have those claims denied by the Social Security Administration. These disabled workers must then begin the disability appeal process and will have to wait to have their disability case heard by an administrative law judge. Due to the backlog of cases being appealed in the Social Security system, the wait times for such a hearing are horrendous. The office that is in charge of scheduling disability hearings for Yuma disability applicants takes an average of 461 days to schedule a hearing.
Hiring a Yuma Disability Attorney
Fortunately, working with a Yuma Social Security Disability lawyer may increase your chances of filing a successful application during the initial stage of the disability claim process. Your attorney will be able to help you gather the medical evidence that will be needed to prove your disabling condition to the Social Security Administration and will ensure that you have filled out all of the questions on the disability claim forms properly. This will increase your chance of receiving disability benefits during this stage of the application process. If your disability claim is denied, a Yuma Social Security attorney can help you throughout your Social Security Disability appeal.
The Social Security Disability appeal process is stressful, complicated and long. Statistics show that individuals who are represented by an attorney during this process are more likely to be awarded benefits than individuals who choose to represent themselves. The first stage of appeal that your attorney will work on is called a Request for Reconsideration. Unfortunately, about 80 percent of these requests are denied as well. The second stage of the process is called the disability hearing. This is when you will have a chance to plead your case before an administrative law judge. This judge has the power to overturn the SSA's decision to deny your benefits. It is crucial that you have a Yuma disability attorney representing you when you attend your disability hearing.
When preparing for your hearing, your Yuma disability lawyer will gather the evidence that the administrative law judge will need in order to overturn the SSA's decision to deny your disability claim. He or she will also prepare you for your hearing on a personal level, letting you know what to expect and how you should present yourself when the day arrives. Remember, you will have waited more than a year for this day. It is crucial that you do everything in your power to tip the scales in your favor.
Fortunately, the services of a Yuma Social Security Disability attorney are very affordable. These attorneys work on a contingency basis, collecting 25 percent of the back pay that you are awarded by the Social Security Administration, up to a maximum amount of $6,000. The exact amount that you receive in back pay and the exact amount that goes to your attorney will depend on how long you have qualified for benefits and how much your monthly benefits will be. If you do not win your case, your attorney will not receive compensation and you will not be liable for his or her costs.
Click here if you would like to request a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case and to learn more about hiring a Yuma Social Security lawyer to represent you during your Social Security Disability claim.
