Connecticut Social Security Disability

Of the more than 2 million residents that live in the State of Connecticut, approximately 3.7 percent receive Social Security Disability benefits. In 2011 there will be thousands of more Connecticut residents applying for Social Security Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Unfortunately, the majority of these applicants will be denied benefits during the initial stage of the disability claim process. In fact, the Social Security Administration denies approximately 70 percent of the initial applications received from disability applicants. These applicants must then go on to endure the complicated Social Security Disability appeal process in order to obtain the disability benefits they may be rightfully entitled to.

The first stage of the disability appeal process is called a Request for Reconsideration. A Connecticut Social Security Disability applicant has 60 days from the date they are denied benefits to file this appeal. Unfortunately, nearly 85 percent of these appeals are also denied by the Social Security Administration. The next stage of appeals is a disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. While nearly two-thirds of these appeals are decided in favor of disability applicants, it takes Connecticut Social Security Disability applicants more than a year to obtain a court date for a disability hearing. It then takes another two to three months after the hearing for an applicant to be notified as to whether or not the judge ruled in their favor.

Many Connecticut Social Security Disability applicants do not understand why it takes so long to obtain a hearing before an ALJ. The reason for the extensive wait times is the backlog of cases being appealed in the Social Security system. The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is the Social Security agency that is responsible for scheduling disability hearings. The area of Connecticut that you live in determines which ODAR office manages your disability case. The backlog of that particular office will determine how long you must wait for a disability hearing to be scheduled. The ODAR offices in charge of scheduling hearings for Connecticut Social Security Disability applicants are as follows:

• Hartford, Connecticut

The ODAR office located in Hartford, Connecticut is responsible for scheduling the disability hearings for the Social Security field offices in Bristol, East Hartford, Hartford, Meriden, Middleton, New Britain, New London, Norwich, Torrington, Waterbury and Willimantic. It takes this office an average of 369 days to schedule a hearing for Connecticut Social Security Disability applicants.

• New Haven, Connecticut

The ODAR office located in New Haven manages the disability hearings for the Social Security field offices in Ansonia, Bridgeport, Danbury, New Haven, Norwalk and Stamford. It takes this office an average of 448 days to schedule a disability hearing.

Hiring a Connecticut Social Security Disability Attorney

No one wants to wait any longer than necessary to obtain Social Security Disability benefits. Many Connecticut Social Security Disability applicants wonder if there is any way to avoid the lengthy disability appeal process, thereby avoiding the need for a disability hearing. The only way for a disability applicant to avoid the need for an appeal is to obtain an approval for disability benefits at the initial stage of the application process. Fortunately, the services of a qualified Conneticut Social Security Disability lawyer may help you in this endeavor.

When you hire a Connecticut Social Security Disability attorney to represent you in your disability claim, he or she will work with you to complete the paperwork necessary to file your claim for disability benefits. Your lawyer can assist you in filling out the application paperwork and can provide you with guidance regarding the questions asked on the disability application forms. Your Connecticut Social Security Disability lawyer will also help you gather the medical evidence that will be needed to support your disability claim and will ensure that your claim is presented properly to the Social Security Administration.

If, for some reason, your claim for disability benefits is not approved, a Connecticut Social Security Disability attorney can increase your chances of successfully appealing the SSA's decision to deny your benefits. If you do need to appeal a denied disability claim, you will likely need to attend a disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Your lawyer will be able to represent you at this hearing and will prepare you for what you should expect and how you should answer the questions asked by the ALJ. While you can technically represent yourself at this hearing, statistics show that applicants who are represented by a Connecticut Social Security Disability lawyer are more likely to be awarded benefits than applicants who choose to represent themselves.

If your application for disability benefits has been denied, you should contact a Connecticut Social Security Disability attorney as soon as possible. You only have 60 days from the date that you were denied benefits to appeal the SSA's decision.

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