Manchester, TN Social Security Disability Lawyer
According to figures released in April 2018, about 1,100 workers in Manchester, and about 700 spouses and children of workers, were receiving Social Security Disability Benefits as of December 2017.
Roughly 10 percent of the city population receives disability benefits, compared to an average of about 5 percent of working-age people in the United States as a whole. But that doesn’t mean Manchester workers are lazy or taking advantage of disability benefits. Disability rates are higher than average in Manchester, because the majority of existing jobs are in manufacturing – an occupation that’s notoriously hard on the body.
It’s not easy to get SSD benefits; the Social Security Administration rejects most first-time applicants. Accordingly, the actual number of people in Manchester who need SSD is likely higher than 1,100.
John R. Colvin, Attorney at Law, understands the challenges people face in applying for disability. Families often struggle to make ends meet, as they wait to find out whether they’ve been approved for benefits or wonder when that first disability check will arrive. If you need help applying for SSD, or with appealing a denial of your claim, contact our office today to request a free, no-obligation case consultation.
The Toll of Hard Labor
The largest employers in the city are in or near Manchester Industrial Parkway. In 2016, Kasai North America, Kirchhoff Van-Rob Manchester, and Great Lakes Cheese employed a total of 2,036 people. Employees for these and other manufacturing companies may be on their feet for hours, working with or near industrial machinery, expected to lift heavy objects, or performing repetitive tasks, day after day. Any of those factors can raise the risk of a disabling injury.
According to Concentra, which advises employers on how to keep workers safe and healthy, the three main causes of injury or disability in manufacturing are:
Environment – Amputations, lacerations, severe burns, and some types of illnesses are risks of working in a manufacturing environment.
Noise – In 2014, the rate of hearing loss in manufacturing was 300 percent higher than that of any other occupation, with 13,700 noise-induced hearing loss cases reported that year.
Tasks – Muscle strains and sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other musculoskeletal disorders may occur after performing the same task repeatedly. These injuries are common when workplaces fail to offer basic ergonomic conveniences, such as padded floor mats that reduce strain on the body when standing, or back braces for workers who repeatedly lift heavy objects.
When Disability Disrupts Income
A severe illness or injury that renders someone unable to work is a devastating blow to family finances. Even when workers have benefits such as paid sick leave or health insurance, medical bills and the cost of living often exceed what people can afford. The longer a person is unable to work, the worse their financial situation can become.
SSD benefits won’t completely replace lost income, but they can at least help workers pay their expenses.
Disability Benefits for Family
SSD benefits may help a worker care for a spouse or child with a disability. With a qualifying disability, a family member may receive up to 50 percent of the worker’s disability rate (which is based on overall work history). That benefit is especially helpful for families in which a spouse cannot work because he or she is the primary caretaker for a child younger than 16 who is entitled to receive benefits (based on the working spouse’s record) or who has a disability.
Getting Help
The process of applying for SSD can be frustrating, especially when the person who needs benefits is too ill, or too immobile, to gather all the documents the SSA requires. People who have a disability that prevents them from working will likely have considerable difficulty traveling to Social Security offices or attending hearings. Even if they are able to provide all the evidence the SSA requires, they may be unable to navigate the appeals process, if the SSA denies their claim.
John R. Colvin has more than two decades of experience helping people in Manchester and throughout the Tennessee Valley apply for SSD benefits. He also has successfully appealed denials of SSD claims for his clients. To minimize financial stress for clients, John R. Colvin handles SSD cases on contingency, meaning you pay nothing up front for services – his fee comes from any SSD benefits and back payments you may receive.
If you need help with your SSD case, please contact us to request your free case consultation.