If you live in the state of Maryland you may file an application for disability benefits in that state. Most states provide disability benefits to applicants who are eligible. There are several requirements that need to be met including the disability being in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book listings.
If your disability doesn’t match an exact listing the SSA you may request you take part in a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment done by your physician. The results of this help a decision to be made to decide if your physical and mental abilities are insufficient to enable you to work.
Social Security Disability Benefits in Maryland
The Disability Determination Services (DDS) office in Maryland is responsible for arriving at a decision in relation to disability benefits claims. The following information is generally used:
- the applicant’s present health status and medical records;
- the applicant’s personal view concerning how the disability affects their ability to work;
- physical and mental capacity reports provided by the applicant’s physician;
- the ongoing review of the disability.
In Maryland, as in other US states, to be able to qualify for a Social Security Disability benefit (SSDI program), you need to have been employed for a certain number of years where you paid Social Security taxes (FICA) and therefore gained adequate work credits. If you haven't worked long enough when you are struck by a disability and your income and assets fall below a certain threshold you may be told you are eligible to lodge an application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
When submitting a social security disability benefits claim in Maryland the assessment is the responsibility of the federal government through the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Disability Determination Service (DDS) makes the initial decision about your disability benefits claim in Maryland. You may file for disability benefits at field offices spread throughout the state.
Maryland SSA Field Office Locations
There are currently 24 Social Security Field Offices in MD. These are located Abingdon, Annapolis, Baltimore, Baltimore Wabash Ave, Baltimore West, Cumberland, Charlotte Hall, Elkton, Frederick, Glen Burnie, Hagerstown, Halethorpe, Lanham, Owings Mills, Rockville, Rosedale, Salisbury, Silver Spring, Suitland, Towson, and Westminster.
Maryland Disability Statistics
The DDS approves about 33 percent of SSDI/SSI claims at the initial application while 14 percent are approved after the reconsideration review. If you request a disability hearing to appeal a disability benefits denial in Maryland, the average time to the hearing date is about 15 months compared to the national average of 19 months.
In disability hearings in Maryland the administrative law judge approves benefits in about 70 percent of cases.
Appealing Denied Social Security in Maryland
In Maryland, the SSA allows applicants for disability benefits who have had their claim denied to apply for reconsideration as the first stage of the appeals process. If the reconsideration of a case is rejected, then an appeal may be allowed, and this is when the case is heard by an administrative law judge (ALJ).
If you were recently denied Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Maryland, you may request an appeal. Typically, you are given 60 days after you have been informed of the decision to lodge the appeal.
The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is in charge of conducting Social Security Disability (SSD) hearings and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) hearings in 2 different offices in Maryland. Presently, in Maryland, the average wait time for an SSI or SSD hearing is 13.5 months. The average time for case processing time in Maryland is 479 days. The Maryland average for winning a disability hearing is 45 percent.
Help Filing for Disability Benefits in Maryland
It is never quite as simple as you may think filing for disability benefits in Maryland as there are so many facts that need to be considered in a disability claim that have to be approved before you are granted any disability benefits.
A disability lawyer should be able to offer the help you require to win your disability benefits entitlements in Maryland and can try to win a disability claim on your behalf so that an appeal can be avoided. However, if your claim is denied at the 1st stage and you decide to lodge an appeal the disability lawyer can work hard to win the appeal so that you are awarded the disability benefits you deserve.
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