Arizona Social Security Disability

Approximately 3.6 percent of the nearly four million residents who live in Arizona receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Thousands more will apply for Arizona Social Security Disability benefits this year. The problem is, the majority of these applicants will be denied during the initial stage of the application process, which takes Arizona Social Security Disability applicants about three to six months to complete. In fact, in the State of Arizona, about 60 percent of initial disability claims are denied by the SSA. These applicants must then go on to file a Request for Reconsideration, which is the first stage of appeals for Arizona Social Security Disability applicants. Again, this process takes another three to six months to complete and more than 70 percent of applicants will be denied at this stage of the claim process as well.

In order for most Arizona Social Security Disability applicants to obtain disability benefits, they must obtain a hearing before an administrative law judge. Depending on the area of Arizona that you live in, it can take anywhere from 461 to 476 days to be scheduled for a disability hearing. It then takes another 45 to 90 days from the date of your hearing to receive notice as to whether or not the judge presiding over your case decided in your favor. This means that the majority of Arizona Social Security Disability applicants must wait more than two years before being approved for the disability benefits they need.

The reason that it takes so long for so many Arizona Social Security Disability applicants to be approved for disability benefits is the backlog of cases waiting for a disability hearing. The SSA office in charge of scheduling disability hearings is the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). The area of Arizona that you live in determines which ODAR office handles your case and how long you will have to wait before your disability hearing is scheduled. The ODAR offices that handle the hearings for Arizona Social Security Disability applicants are as follows:

• Phoenix, Arizona

The ODAR office located in Phoenix, Arizona is responsible for scheduling the disability hearings for the Social Security field offices in Apache Junction, Chinle, Colorado River Basin, Flagstaff, Mesa, Phoenix Downtown, Show Low and Tuba City. It takes this office an average of 476 days to schedule a disability hearing.

• Phoenix (North), Arizona

The North Phoenix ODAR office is responsible for scheduling the disability hearings for the Glendale, Phoenix North and Prescott Social Security field offices. The average processing time for this ODAR office is eleven months.

• Tucson, Arizona

The Tucson ODAR office manages the disability hearings for the Social Security field offices located in Casa Grande, Douglas, Globe, Nogales, Safford, Sells, Tucson, Tucson (South) and Yuma. It takes this office an average of 461 days to schedule a disability hearing.

Hiring an Arizona Social Security Disability Attorney

Many Arizona disability applicants wonder if there is any way to get Social Security Disability benefits more quickly. The truth is, the only way to avoid the lengthy and complicated Social Security Disability appeal process is to be approved for benefits during the initial stage of the disability claim process. Fortunately, there is a way that you can increase your chances of this happening. If you retain the services of a qualified Arizona Social Security Disability lawyer, you may be able to increase your chances of receiving an approval at the initial stage of the disability application process and avoid the appeals stage altogether.

When you hire an Arizona Social Security Disability attorney, your lawyer will go over your claim with you. If you have not yet submitted a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, your lawyer will work with you to ensure that your application is filled out properly and that you have all of the necessary medical evidence that will be needed to support your disability case. If you have already applied for disability benefits and have been denied, an Arizona Social Security Disability lawyer can help you through the appeal process and can increase your chances of successfully appealing the SSA's decision to deny your disability benefits.

The good news is that even if your claim for disability benefits is denied during the initial stage of the application process, nearly two-thirds of Arizona Social Security Disability applicants are awarded benefits at the hearing stage of the disability appeal. It is important, however, that you understand that even though you are allowed to represent yourself at this hearing, it may not be in your best interest to do so. Statistics show that working with a qualified Arizona Social Security Disability attorney will increase your chances of being awarded benefits. Due to this fact, you should consult with a qualified Arizona Social Security Disability lawyer as soon as possible.

If you would like to learn more about hiring an Arizona Social Security Disability attorney, click here to receive a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case.