Applying for Jacksonville Social Security Disability Benefits
In Jacksonville, North Carolina there are thousands of disabled individuals that struggle each month to meet their financial obligations. Many of the people who suffer from permanent or long-term disabling conditions are unable to work as a result of the physical limitations that the disability places on them.
The Social Security Disability benefits that are provided by the Social Security Administration are intended to help these individuals. Unfortunately, only about 30 percent of the applicants who apply for these benefits are approved during the initial stage of the application process. This means that the majority of Social Security Disability applicants are left wondering how they will make ends meet when the denial letter arrives. Fortunately, a denial of Social Security Disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process does not mean that you will not be able to get disability benefits in the future.
You will just need to appeal the SSA's decision to deny your disability claim. It is crucial, however, that you have a Jacksonville Social Security Disability attorney representing you during this process if you hope to increase your chances of filing a successful appeal.
The Jacksonville economy is founded on the naval stores, lumber operations and tobacco crops that are grown in the area. The unemployment rate in Jacksonville comes in at 8.8 percent, which is below the national average of 9.10 percent. Jacksonville has a median household income of approximately $43,204 while the average cost of living in the area is nearly 10 percent below the national average.
There are approximately 80,000 residents living in Jacksonville, North Carolina. In the State of North Carolina, there are approximately 199,000 individuals receiving Social Security Disability benefits. In the state of North Carolina it can take some disability applicants well over two years before they begin receiving Social Security Disability benefits.
This is largely due to the fact that the majority of claimants are denied disability during the initial application process. Fortunately, hiring a Jacksonville Social Security Disability lawyer can increase your chances of being awarded disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process, thereby avoiding the need for a long and complex disability appeal.
Back to topHiring a Jacksonville Disability Attorney
When you hire a Jacksonville Social Security attorney, the first thing that he or she will do is go over your Social Security Disability claim with you. Once your claim has been reviewed, your attorney will advise you as to which program you may qualify for (SSI or SSDI or, in some cases, both) and what information you will need to gather in order to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration. If your medical records do not contain enough objective medical evidence in order to support your disability claim, your Jacksonville disability attorney may request that you undergo additional medical testing in order to strengthen your disability case.
After your Jacksonville disability lawyer has reviewed your claim for Social Security Disability benefits with you, he or she will file the first appeal with the Social Security Administration. This stage of appeal is called a Request for Reconsideration. Unfortunately, your chances of being awarded benefits as a result of this request are minimal.
In fact, more than 80 percent of reconsideration requests are denied by the Social Security Administration. The good news is that next stage of the appeal process, which is the disability hearing, is when you have the greatest chance of successfully overturning the SSA's decision to deny your Social Security Disability benefits. Your attorney will be able to help you fill form HA-4632 (medical documents) and HA-4633 (work history), which ALJs generally require before the hearing.
The truth is that the Social Security Disability hearing process can be overwhelming and frustrating. It may take well over a year before you actually get your day in court. Once your court date arrives, you are left with the stress of presenting yourself properly to the administrative law judge who will be presiding over your case and you will have to prove the extent of your disability to the court. Fortunately, your Jacksonville Social Security Disability attorney will do most of the work for you and will advise you in regards to what is required on your part to win your disability case.
The good news is that nearly two-thirds of appeals are won at the hearing stage of the Social Security Disability appeal process. If you are working with a good attorney and have enough objective medical evidence to support your claim, chances are that you will be awarded disability benefits as a result of this hearing.
Many people worry that they will not be able to afford the services of a Jacksonville Social Security Disability attorney. Fortunately, the cost of a Jacksonville Security Disability lawyer does not have to get in the way of obtaining the legal representation that you need in order to win your case.
Disability lawyers work on a contingency basis, receiving 25 percent of the back pay that you are awarded by the Social Security Administration or $6,000 (whichever is less). If you are not awarded benefits by the Social Security Administration, then your attorney does not get paid. This means that it is in your lawyer's best interest to win your disability case for you.
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