The legal career of an experienced Detroit personal injury lawyer generally revolves around assisting individuals who have been involved in a variety of accidents, including injured persons and senior citizens who have been denied Social Security and disability benefits. The dwindling economy has hit Americans hard, in several aspects of life including retirement. According to the Associated Press, almost two million people nationwide are waiting to find out if they will be granted Social Security benefits. Even if they are successful in their claims, it is almost certain that seniors will be waiting a long time.
Currently, the Social Security system in the United States is so backed up that a great number of American seniors must wait two years to receive any form of payment. Unfortunately, in the Midwest region and particularly in Michigan, it is often an even longer process. Because many people who previously worked despite disabilities are laid off in a bad economy, the number of applicants ultimately increases. The Associate Press reports that approximately 3.3 million seniors are expected to apply for Social Security benefits this year alone–significantly increasing from numbers recorded in 2007 and 2008.
Right away, about two-thirds of these claims will be dropped by state insurance agencies controlled by the Social Security Administration. In the United States, statistics show that insurance companies will wait an average of 111 days before denying 63 percent of the total applicants. Although most will choose to drop their Social Security claim, those that continue to fight must go through an appeals process that can last two years or more. However, those that do choose to pursue their claims through the Court of Appeals generally have a good chance of receiving payments, even retroactively.
This backlog is embarrassing for the Social Security Administration, and even their own officials admit it. Michael Astrue, Social Security commissioner, calls the delay “unacceptable.” He says this is especially true for individuals who have paid taxes for years to support the Social Security system, and now are unable to benefit from it when the help is needed the most. Even though Astrue has had minor success eliminating the backup in the past, the economy-linked spike in applicants threatens the flow of process already made. While Astrue maintains his dedication to solving the problem, he recognizes that it will take some time to fix. Setting the completion goal for 2013, he added “It takes longer to fix something than it does to break it.”
The information provided above is scary stuff, particularly for injured people and seniors who need the Social Security benefits the most. Because qualifying for and receiving compensation is so difficult, it is vital to have the highest quality representation on your side. An aggressive Detroit Social Security lawyer can not only provide sound legal advice, but help make sure that your claim moves through the application process as quickly and painlessly as possible. If you’ve been hurt and are unable to work, do not allow your livelihood to be directly affected–take the proactive decision and seek experienced legal counsel immediately.
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