What Percentage of Disability Cases Get Approved?
The United States has a Social Security system which provides a safety net to those who are physically or mentally unable to work. The logic of this system is that a person should not be doomed to living a life without food or shelter because they are unable to work for themselves. It is society’s responsibility to look after one another.
The funds for this system are collected from taxes. Most times the funds come directly out of a worker’s paycheck before they receive it. The employer also matches these funds. Many times, people become disabled after contributing to this fund for many years. They are hence entitled to the benefits from the fund. This is where the term “entitlements” comes from.
It is up to the system to decide which persons are truly disabled and qualify for these benefits. They receive the claim and review it for its authenticity. Naturally, there will be cases which are found to lack proper evidence that the applicant is truly disabled.
According to Maria Riddle, a disability attorney in Melbourne, FL, the cases are decided on an individual basis at the state level and the approval rate varies from state to state. On average, about half of all claims in the United States go unapproved with about 15% of them being approved on appeal.
Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Hawaii and Puerto Rico have the highest initial approval rate averaging at about 60%. Hawaii is head and shoulders the highest at 78%. The lowest approval rate can be found in Kansas and New Mexico at 42% and 46% respectively.
In cases where a person hired an attorney to file their claim, the chances of getting approved skyrocket to 50% higher. This is because an attorney helps build a case the proper way from the start. Having a clear understanding of the law and the system, an attorney knows exactly which forms to file and helps their client establish a history and proof of their inability to work.
If a person is denied benefits, it behooves them to hire an disability attorney for an appeal. Again, the probability of getting approved improves dramatically when an attorney handles the appeal.
Attorneys only receive a percentage of the claim which is capped by law. In Florida, for example, the total amount an attorney can be paid is $7200 for the entire life of the claim. Also, the attorney does not get paid unless their client wins the case. When you do the math on all the scenarios laid out above, it makes perfect sense to hire a social security disability attorney from the start.
A person has the right to apply for financial assistance should they be unable to work. An attorney simply helps guide the individual through their process and will fight for them in the process.
A quick Google search can help a person find the disability attorney with the best reputation in their area. Clients will often leave honest feedback on the Google reviews system. This is a review system which is very unlikely to be gamed.
Another way to find a great attorney is through word-of-mouth. Knowing someone who has had a good experience with an attorney and then hiring that attorney is the very best way to go.
