Santa Ana is the second largest city in the Orange County area of California. As of the 2010 census the population was 324,528 making it the 57th most populated area in the USA. As many as 8% of the population of California are considered disabled with a slightly higher percentage residing in Santa Ana. The local Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Santa Ana serves a number of surrounding areas and as such is subject to long wait times for processing any application for social security disability.
In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must be unable to perform substantial gainful activity (SGA) for a period of no less than 12 months. In order to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits you must have previously paid employment taxes and have accumulated enough credits to qualify. Your work history will not come into play if you are applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Wait times for a hearing in the state of California can be as long as 1 1/2 to 2 years. Due to the large percentage of the population being on disability, applying for disability or appealing a denial of benefits, it's important for people to use a Santa Ana disability lawyer who specializes in handling these types of cases.
The last thing anyone wants is to be denied benefits, but in California the denial rate can be as high as 80%. Once denied it becomes even more important to use a lawyer from Santa Ana if you want your application to be successful. During the appeals process you will go before a judge and that alone can be intimidating for anyone not familiar with the system.
Apply for Santa Ana Social Security Disability Benefits
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in Santa Ana begins with the application forms that you will be required to fill out. It's important to consider consulting with a Santa Ana disability attorney. A disability lawyer will ensure that all papers are filled out correctly, and that all paperwork from doctors and labs are submitted appropriately along with your application.
A Santa Ana disability attorney will advise you on things you can do to help avoid a denial of your
application. They will go over all your medical records, including x-rays, lab reports and any scans you have had. They'll review your doctors notes to make sure that you have been diagnosed correctly, and advise you on following instructions and taking medications as directed.
Should your claim be denied you will then need to file a request for reconsideration, followed buy a hearing before a judge. If you have yet to hire a Santa Ana Social Security attorney, you should strongly consider doing so. Your best of chance of being awarded benefits is at your disability hearing. Around 60% of disability claims are approved at the hearing stage.
Santa Ana has one office that handles applications for disability benefits. The address is listed below:
Santa Ana Social Security Disability
1851 East First St., 5th Floor
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(800) 772-12133
Santa Ana Social Security Disability Resources
Paying for medical treatment when you are unemployed can be difficult financially. It's necessary for you to be properly diagnosed and treated by a doctor so that these records can be included in with your disability application. There are a number of places in Santa Ana that offer low cost or free medical services and they are listed below:
Clinica Medica de Ella
2223 West First Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
714-500-0320
Community Care Health Centers Clinic For Women
1227 West 17th Street, Suite 101
Santa Ana, CA 92706
714-500-0340
Santa Ana Clinic
1206 East 17th St., Suite 105
Santa Ana, CA 92701
714-616-6498
Community Clinic of Orange County
2000 W. Walnut St.
Santa Ana, CA 92703
714-541-5726
Your Santa Ana Disability Claim
Filing a claim for disability benefits in Santa Ana can be a difficult and complicated process. Many people find, after searching online, that just the forms alone can be overwhelming. Many choose to use the services of a Santa Ana Social Security attorney. Using a disability attorney could be the difference in having your disability claim approved.
Disability attorneys work on a contingency basis are not paid unless you are awarded benefits. In addition they offer free consultations to give you insight as to whether you disability claim is worth pursuing. Click here for a free disability evaluation of your case.
