This year millions of disabled American workers will apply for Social Security Disability benefits. Faced with an unexpected loss of income, these hard-working taxpayers suddenly find themselves with no way to pay their day-to-day living expenses, let alone cover the mounting disability-related medical bills they begin to incur. In cases like these, Social Security Disability benefits are supposed to be there to help.
Unfortunately, actually obtaining disability benefits from the Social Security Administration isn't an easy endeavor. If you are applying for disability benefits in the Centennial, Colorado area, don't submit your disability claim without speaking to a Centennial Social Security Disability attorney first.
The City of Centennial is located in the Denver metropolitan area in Arapahoe County. There are more than 4,000 businesses registered in the city including Oppenheimer Funds, United Launch Alliance, Pearson e-College, Comcast, US Foodservice, Jones International University, United Healthcare Services, King Soopers and Saunders Construction.
The median household income in the city is $85,185, which is well above the national average. The city's cost of living, however, is also above approximately 8 percent above the national average.
Applying for Centennial Social Security Disability Benefits
Centennial is home to just over 100,000 Colorado residents. In the State of Colorado, approximately 2.8 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits with an average disability payment of $1,063.80 per month. While this monthly benefit amount can help offset some of the financial struggles that disabled Centennial workers are faced by, it will take the average disability applicant in the city a total of 456 days to complete the disability claim process.
These long processing times are due to the fact that the majority of Centennial disability applicants will be denied disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process. In fact, nearly 70 percent of claims are denied by the Social Security Administration at the initial application stage. This results in the need for a disability appeal.
The Social Security Disability appeal process consists of two separate stages for the majority of Social Security Disability applicants. The first stage, which is the Request for Reconsideration, is denied by the SSA more than 80 percent of the time. The second stage, which is the disability hearing, is when you will have your chance to plead your case before an administrative law judge. It is important, however, that you have proper legal representation at your hearing if you hope to have the best chance of a successful hearing outcome.
Hiring a Centennial Disability Attorney
If you have not yet filed your claim for Social Security Disability benefits, you may be able to avoid the appeal process if you retain the services of a Centennial Social Security Disability lawyer. Your lawyer will work with you to prepare your disability application and will gather the medical evidence that will be needed to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration.
This will increase your chances of being awarded benefits at the initial stage of the disability claim process. If your application is still denied by the SSA, your attorney can represent you through each stage of your disability appeal.
If you have already filed a disability claim without the help of a Centennial Social Security attorney and that claim has been denied, you should consult with a Centennial Social Security lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney will only have 60 days from the date you receive notice of your denied claim to appeal the SSA's decision to deny your benefits. Your lawyer will need as much time as possible to file your appeal and prepare your disability case.
While you are technically allowed to represent yourself during the disability appeal process, your chances of actually winning your appeal are significantly reduced if you choose this option. Statistics show that an applicant's chances of obtaining a favorable decision from the administrative law judge are significantly increased with proper legal representation. If you want to tip the scales in your favor and win your disability case, you need to consult with a Centennial disability attorney prior to entering into the disability appeal process.
If you are worried that you cannot afford the services of a Centennial disability lawyer, your worry is without reason. These professionals work on a contingency basis, collecting 25 percent of the back pay the Social Security Administration awards you, up to a maximum of $6,000. So, for example, if you are awarded $20,000 in back payments, your attorney receives $5,000 of that amount. If you were to be awarded $40,000, your attorney would only receive $6,000 and not the full 25 percent. If you do not win your Social Security Disability case, your attorney does not collect a fee.
