Clovis, California is a growing community located in the northeast section of the Clovis-Fresno Metropolitan area. As part of the agriculturally-centered San Joaquin Valley, Clovis maintains the historic ambiance of an old Western town. With a population of just under 100,000 people, Clovis is a small town, occupying roughly 23 square miles. While big box retailers like Target and Wal-mart employ hundreds of residents, the town’s economy relies heavily on the storefront shops that line the streets of Clovis. The largest employer in the area is the Clovis Unified School District.
Within the city of Clovis, there were a little over 15,000 social security cases in current-payment status in December of 2010. If you are a worker who has sustained a physical or mental injury which keeps you from performing the essential duties of your job for at least twelve consecutive months, you may qualify to receive social security disability benefits in Clovis. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will review the last ten years of your work history to ensure that you have earned a sufficient number of work credits in a job covered by social security insurance. If you meet work credit criteria, the California Disability Determination Services (DDS) will conduct a review of your medical history to determine if you are medically eligible to participate in the social security disability program. In the event you have not earned enough work credits, you may still qualify to receive Social Security benefits in Clovis.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in Clovis
By December of 2011, only about 31% of the social security disability claims filed in the state of California were awarded. Arguably the most essential part of your Clovis social security disability case is the DDS’s review of your medical history. Using information obtained from your treating physician, a disability examiner will review your Clovis disability case to determine the severity of your injury and to make a decision on whether your injury qualifies as a disability covered by the Social Security Act. If there is not enough medical evidence available in your file to support your disability claim, your case can be denied. Hiring a licensed Clovis social security disability attorney can help to not only improve your chances of winning your disability case, but it can also help your case to progress more quickly.
If you already applied for benefits and your claim was denied, you have the right to appeal the initial decision within 65 days of the date on your decision letter. Filing a Request for Reconsideration with the SSA will allow you the opportunity to have your medical documentation reviewed by a second disability examiner. Before filing your appeal, be sure to get the advice of your Clovis SSD attorney. Consider the fact that in the state of California, 69% of initial claims are denied and of the claims that are appealed, nearly 90% of the reconsiderations are also denied. If your case is in the majority of appeals that are denied, you retain the right to Request a Disability Hearing on your Clovis social security disability case. Of the cases that are heard in the Fresno hearing office, 43.5% of those cases were awarded at the end of 2011.
Listed below are the local Social Security Offices where a Clovis Social Security applicant can file a claim for disability benefits:
Fresno SSA Field Office
640 W Locust Avenue
Fresno, CA 93650
Clovis Social Security Disability Resources
Winning your Clovis social security disability case involves being able to prove that you have suffered an injury which keeps you out of the workforce for at least one year. As such, you will need medical evidence to support your claim. If you are uninsured or underinsured, there are facilities in the Clovis area that may be of service to you.
Peachwood Medical Center
275 W Herndon Ave
Clovis, CA, 93612
(559) 324-6200
Clovis Central Valley Indian Health Clinic
20 North Dewitt
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 299-2608
Divisadero Community Health Center
145 N. Clark St. Suite 116
Fresno, CA 93701
(559) 457-5919
Your Clovis Disability Claim
Your best insurance for winning your Clovis social security disability case is to make sure that you receive treatment from a licensed physician as soon as you are injured and to make sure that you seek the counsel of a Clovis SSD attorney early in the application and review process. Your attorney can review your claim, offer needed advice and represent you throughout the process.
The initial consultation with an SSD attorney is free and you will only have to pay if your attorney wins your case for you. To learn more about hiring a Social Security attorney or to request a free evaluation of your case, click here.
