In 2011 the Social Security Administration will receive millions of claims for Social Security Disability benefits. In the state of Kansas alone, nearly 67,000 disabled workers receive Social Security Disability payments each month. Unfortunately, the majority of these applicants will be denied disability benefits during the initial stage of the Social Security Disability application process. The fact of the matter is that nearly 70 percent of the disability claims received each year are denied. These disability applicants must then go on to file an appeal in order to overturn the SSA's decision to deny the disability benefits these applicants desperately need. The only problem is, the appeal process can take some Kansas Social Security Disability benefits more than a year to complete.
When an initial application for Social Security Disability benefits is denied, an applicant must file a Request for Reconsideration. This is the first stage of the disability appeal process. Nearly 80 percent of these requests are also denied by the Social Security Administration. Kansas Social Security Disability applicants must then appear at a disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. In the State of Kansas it can take an average of 505 days to be scheduled for a disability hearing. It will then take another 45 to 90 days to be notified regarding the outcome of that hearing, and whether or not you were awarded your disability benefits.
Many Kansas Social Security Disability applicants wonder why it takes so long for a disability hearing to be scheduled. The reason for the extensive wait time is due to the significant backlog of disability cases being handled by the Social Security Administration. The offices responsible for managing disability hearings is the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. The area of Kansas that you live in determines which ODAR office handles your disability case. The backlog of that office determines how long you will have to wait for a disability hearing to be scheduled. The ODAR offices that handle the disability hearings for Kansas Social Security Disability applicants are as follows:
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Topeka, Kansas
- Wichita, Kansas
The Kansas City ODAR office in Missouri is responsible for scheduling the disability hearings for the Kansas Social Security field offices in Johnson County and Kansas City. It takes this office an average of 463 days to schedule a disability hearing.
The Topeka ODAR office is responsible for managing the disability hearings for the Kansas Social Security field offices in Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan and Topeka. It takes this office an average of nine months to schedule a disability hearing for Kansas Social Security Disability applicants.
The ODAR office located in Wichita is responsible for scheduling the disability hearings for the Social Security field offices in Dodge City, Hays, Hutchinson, Independence, Pittsburg, Salina and Wichita. It takes this office an average of 505 days to schedule a hearing for Kansas Social Security Disability applicants.
Hiring a Kansas Social Security Disability Attorney
The majority of Kansas Social Security Disability applicants will wait at least a year before being scheduled for a disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Because of this, many applicants wonder if there is any way to avoid the lengthy disability appeal process. While it is not always possible to avoid a denial of an initial disability claim, your chances of approval are significantly increased with proper legal representation.
If you retain the services of a qualified Kansas Social Security Disability lawyer, your lawyer will work with you to prepare your disability claim properly. They will also ensure that you have sufficient medical evidence to support your claim for disability benefits. If your claim for disability benefits is denied, your Kansas Social Security Disability attorney can represent you through the disability appeal process.
While you can represent yourself in your disability appeal, your chances of successfully overturning the SSA's decision to deny your disability benefits are significantly increased with proper legal representation. Fortunately, obtaining legal services does not have to cause added financial stress. Social Security Disability attorneys work on a contingency basis, collecting 25 percent of the back payment you are awarded by the Social Security Administration, up to an amount of $6,000. If you do not win your case, your lawyer does not collect his or her fee.
If your application for disability benefits has been denied by the Social Security Administration, working with a qualified Kansas Social Security Disability attorney may be vital to the success of your appeal. Statistics show that applicants who obtain legal representation are much more likely to win their appeals than applicants who choose to represent themselves.
If you would like to learn more about hiring a Kansas Social Security Disability lawyer, click here to receive a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case.
