While injuries that lead to a disability can occur instantaneously, receiving Social Security disability can take years. With baby boomers entering the stage in life where disabilities are more common, in addition to staffing shortage, there is a backlog of people waiting for their appeal to be heard. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, there are approximately 1.1 million people waiting to have a hearing with the judge because their Social Security disability case has been turned down twice. If you are disabled and trying to get your insurance payments, contact a Jonesboro personal injury attorney who has the experience to compile your medical records into a compelling case and fight on your behalf.
How Long Does Each Step Take When Applying for Federal Disability Insurance Payments?
It is in your best interests to begin working with a knowledgeable attorney as soon as you plan to file for social security disability.
According to the Arkansas Disability Determination for Social Security Administration, on average it takes:
- 5 to 10 days for the mailing and interview with the Federal Social Security Office
- 3 months to process the case once the state disability determination agency receives your claim
- 4 months for the reconsideration process
- 10 to 12 months for the Administrative Law Judge process
- 1 year minimum for the Appeals Council process
The Process After Initial Application Denial
Many people are denied upon their first Social Security disability filing for a number of reasons, including but not limited to improper paperwork, missing medical evidence or information, a poor judgement by a claim officer, and more. Many of these problems can be avoided by working closely with an attorney. However, if you have been denied, using an attorney is vital for reconsideration and appeals, which are the first two steps to take after you have been denied. You may request a reconsideration after you are denied benefits. During this process, a new physician and adjudicator will make the determination. If this fails, you may appeal to a Federal Social Security Administrative Law Judge. This step, as outlined above, can easily take up to a year. If the Judge does not reverse the decision, you can take it to the Social Security Appeals Council, which also often takes more than a year. Finally, if an appeals council does not see your case favorably, you can take it to the Federal District Court by filing a civil lawsuit. You may even appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court. These last two options are rarely pursued, but even the first three steps can easily take up to 3 years.
Contact Our Jonesboro Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you wish to receive disability benefits in a timely manner, your best option is to enlist in the help of an experienced and skilled Jonesboro personal injury lawyer, such as ours at Wells & Wells. We will protect your rights and streamline the process for you during this otherwise complicated and stressful time. Don’t face it alone--allow us to fight for you, as we are honored to do so.
Contact us at your earliest convenience by calling (870) 782-4084.