Deerfield Beach, Florida is home to a number of hard-working tax-paying citizens. These residents pay Social Security taxes with each paycheck they receive. Because of their diligent payment of these taxes, these workers assume that or will be there for them if they need them.
Unfortunately, the truth is that the SSA denies approximately 70 percent of the claims that it receives each year. As a result, most of the disabled workers in Deerfield Beach who file disability claims are denied during the initial stage of the application process.
This results in the need for a long and complex disability appeal if these applicants hope to receive benefits at some point in the future. In many cases, hiring a Deerfield Beach Social Security Disability attorney can help increase an applicant’s chances of being approved for benefits during the initial stage of the application process or overturning the SSA’s decision to deny their disability benefits.
More than half of the Deerfield Beach residents work in office occupations and in management, professional and related occupations. Approximately 22 percent work in service-related occupations. The median household income in the city is $33,348. Although the median household income in Deerfield Beach is lower than the national average, the cost of living index is 13 percent above the national average.
If you have a disability listed under the SSA's compassionate allowance initiative, you may be eligible to have your case expedited through the SSD decision making process.
Applying for Deerfield Beach Social Security Disability Benefits
More than 75,000 Florida residents make Deerfield Beach their home. In the State of Florida, approximately 4.1 percent of the population receives Social Security Disability benefits. The average monthly disability payment that these recipients receive is $1,068.10 per month.
While this monthly disability benefit can help offset some of the financial stress that is faced by a disabled worker, the fact of the matter is that it will take a Deerfield Beach diability applicant nearly two years to complete the disability claim process. Why does it take so long for disability applicants in Deerfield Beach to obtain their disability benefits when the initial application process is only supposed to take three to four months to complete? The extensive waiting periods are due to the backlog of disability appeals that are currently in the SSA's system.
Deerfield Beach Social Security Disability applicants must wait more than a year before having their case heard before an Administrative Law Judge when pursuing a disability appeal. Because of this, many applicants wonder if there is anything they can do to increase their chances of a favorable decision at the initial stage of the disability claim process, thereby eliminating the need for a disability appeal. In some cases, hiring a Deerfield Beach SSD attorney can help.
Hiring a Deerfield Beach Disability Attorney
What exactly can a Deerfield Beach Social Security lawyer do to help you in your claim for disability benefits? When you hire a Deerfield Beach Social Security attorney, he or she will help you gather the information that will be necessary in order to file a successful claim for Social Security Disability benefits. If, for some reason, your initial claim for disability benefits is denied, your Deerfield Beach Social Security attorney can help you file a successful appeal in order to overturn the SSA's decision to deny your disability claim.
If your application for Social Security Disability benefits has been denied, it is important that you understand that time is of the essence. You need to contact a Deerfield Beach Social Security lawyer as soon as possible, as you will only have 60 days from the date that you receive your notice of denial to appeal the SSA's decision to deny your benefits. In addition, your lawyer will need as much time as possible to prepare your appeal with you.
When hiring a Deerfield Beach disability attorney, the first thing your lawyer will do is determine whether or not you meet the SSA's qualifying disability criteria. Your lawyer will discuss your work history with you as well as your education and the details regarding your disabling condition.
After your Deerfield Beach disability lawyer has reviewed your disability claim, he or she will decide which of the disability programs you may qualify for (SSDI, SSI or both). Your lawyer will then work to prepare your disability claim with you, ensuring that all of the necessary evidence is provided and that your claim is submitted to the Social Security Administration in the best light possible.
If, for some reason, your initial application for benefits is denied, your Deerfield Beach Social Security attorney will begin to work on preparing your SSD appeal. Your lawyer will file the necessary appeal paperwork and will begin to gather the medical evidence that will be needed to further support your claim for Social Security Disability benefits.
This may involve further testing or obtaining the services of medical specialists to support your claim for disability benefits. Your attorney may also retain expert witnesses to testify on your behalf at your disability hearing. Fortunately, nearly two-thirds of disability applicants will receive their disability benefits as a result of the hearing stage of the appeal process. It is important to understand, however, that your chances of a favorable hearing outcome are significantly increased with proper legal representation.
