How do you apply in AZ? If you are making an application for Social Security Disability you can apply
on-line at the
SSA website. You can also make an appointment at your local SSA office by calling 1-800-772-1213 and do it in person. The
third option is to find a national or local lawyer or representative that handles SSDI cases and they will help you apply.
if you are applying for SSI also called Supplemental Security Income you have to apply in person. To know what you need
to apply and how to do it see my page on
applying for SSDI and SSI.What are your chances of winning at application and reconsideration? At the initial decision the percentage
of cases that won for the year 2006 was 40.2% and at reconsideration that number dropped to 29.7%. It will take usually
about three to six months to get a decision at each of these stages. If you want to know how long it takes at hearing
I have put the average processing time for each ODAR below under the ODAR listings.
What to consider when deciding
whether to get a lawyer or not for your case: I suggest you first read this website and determine if you think you understand
what you have to prove to win. You will also want to consider if you feel you have the time and ability to do it yourself
and get a positive outcome. One question you might have is what will a lawyer do to help my case. An experienced
SSDI attorney will know the law already and how to apply it to your particular case. It is there job with your help to
figure out what medical evidence they need to prove your case and to get that evidence. They will then take the facts
of your case and apply it to the law and come up with a theory of the case to win your benefits. It is a good idea to
get a lawyer who has handled many cases because chances are those lawyers will know the rules and will have had cases similar
to yours in the past. If you have decided to use a lawyer feel free to click on link to the right of the page and note
whether you are looking for a local Social Security Disability lawyer or our firm that handles cases nation wide. If
you chose a local lawyer I will help you find one experienced in this area of law. Most lawyers charge 25% of past due
benefits not to exceed $5,300. In other words which ever is less of the two amounts and they only get paid if they win.
Address of ODAR and Local SSA Offices and How Long
it Takes at Hearing.
SSA, Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
Federal Building, Room 3-B
300 West Congress
Street
Tucson, Arizona 85701
Telephone:(520) 670-5840
Fax:(520) 670-4724
The above hearing
office recieves cases from the local SSA offices below:
ARIZONA:
Casa Grande, Douglas, Globe, Nogales, Safford,
Sells. South Tucson, Tucson, Yuma
The Average Processing time for this ODAR for the year 2007 was 404 days.
SSA, Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
Siete Square, Suite 200
3737 North 7th Street
Phoenix,
Arizona 85014
Telephone:(602) 640-2700
Fax:(602) 640-2165
The above hearing office recieves
cases from the below SSA local offices:
ARIZONA:
Apache Junction, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix North, Phoenix DT,
Prescott, Show Low, Tuba City
The average processing time for this ODAR was even longer in 2007 averaging 521
days.
Social Security has been given increase funding as part of the economic stimulus package. A substantial portion of the additional
funds will be used to help decrease the waiting time for those at the Social Security disability hearing level. There is plans
to open a new hearing office in Phoenix Arizona to help reduce the backlog in this state. This is good news for those
of you who have SSDI or SSI claims in AZ. The addition of this ODAR office in Arizona will allow SSA to schedule
more hearings for this state and, therefore will also hopefully reduce processing time for those waiting for a Social
Security Disability hearing in Arizona.
