Social Security has been a lifesaver for many people; it provides them with an income after they have retired and it provides assistance in the event they should suffer from a physical or mental disability.
Applying for retirement benefits is straight forward, all of the records that are needed by the Administration are available and you can expect to get your first payment shortly after you apply. Unfortunately, things are not as simple if you are applying for disability benefits, in the majority of cases an applicant ends up hiring a Social Security lawyer in Westminster to help when they are advised their claim has been denied.
What happens when a claim is denied?
If your claim for Social Security disability benefits is denied, don’t think that you are alone. By all indication, 70 to 75 percent of all claims are denied. In some cases, the claimant simply gives up while others hire a Social Security lawyer in Westminster and appeal the decision. The appeals process is not easy and it certainly takes time but for those claimants that are truly disabled, getting their rightful benefits is a must.
The appeals process:
The first level of the appeals process is to simply ask the Administration to review the initial application. Rarely does this result in approval, the next stage of the process is where the majority of cases that are valid are approved; the appeals hearing.
The hearing takes place in the presence of an Administrative Law Judge; the setting is quite relaxed, nothing like what you might expect in a criminal court. It is during the hearing that you can support your claim with additional medical information and you can introduce expert witnesses that will support your claim. The government has the same opportunities. Based on the evidence presented during the hearing the judge will rule on the submission; a good percentage of denials are overturned at this stage.
If you have been denied your rightful disability benefits you need to hire a Social Security lawyer in Westminster to appeal the decision on your behalf. You are invited to discuss the details of your case with The Law Offices of Norman J. Homen.
