A large number of Social Security disability claims are denied at the application stage. A new investigation finds the wait times for disability appeals in Georgia are extremely lengthy and can sometimes stretch into years.
More than 330,000 Georgians received Social Security disability payments at the beginning of the fiscal year 2020. On an average, each beneficiary received a payment of $1,258. Those statistics conceal a disturbing fact – most persons whose claims for disability benefits are denied are forced to wait for months, and sometimes even years, to have their appeals heard. The investigation found that in the Savannah area alone, the average wait time for an appeal hearing is almost one entire year. The situation is not much different in the rest of Georgia either.
A majority of Social Security disability claims are rejected or denied. The Social Security Administration does allow persons whose claims have been denied to appeal these denials. It is not necessary that you hire a lawyer to file your appeal, but it is highly recommended that you do so. A lawyer can help you present a strong case before the judge in charge of your case.
It’s impossible to underscore the kind of stress and pressure that the Social Security Administration, particularly the administrative law judges who are in charge of appeals, are under. The caseload is staggering. The burden of presenting a case that is rock solid is entirely on you, the appellant. It is imperative that you present all evidence and documentation in support of your appeal.