Is a disability preventing you from working for more than twelve months? You may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits.
If you need legal advice and support to get through the complex process of applying for SSDI benefits, the disability lawyers at Brooks Law Group can help you. We advocate for many people in Florida communities so they can get the SSDI benefits they deserve.
If you have questions about whether you qualify for benefits, Brooks Law Group can help today!
What You Need to Know About Social Security Disability
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has four programs that offer benefits for people with disabilities:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Supplemental Security Income
- Disabled Widows and Widowers Benefits (DWB)
- Disabled Adult Child Benefits (DAC)
Each program follows the same procedure for disability determination services, including the medical requirements to prove disability. Many people confuse Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But there are multiple differences between the two programs.
We’ll go over both of them in detail, starting with SSI, so you can better understand what makes them different.
Supplemental Security Income Benefits (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are given to low-income disabled people regardless of whether they have ever worked. Disabled children under 18 with low-income parents can also receive SSI child disability benefits.
Are you eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits? If you are denied Social Security Disability benefits because you have not worked for a total of five of the last ten years, you may qualify for SSI benefits!
Supplemental Security Income was set up to help disabled people who couldn’t work enough quarters to qualify for Social Security.
To get SSI benefits, you need medical records that are clear, complete, and explain your disability and why you can’t work.
Our SSI lawyers know what records are needed for your SSI disability benefits claim.
When you are awarded SSI benefits, you will also have Medicaid eligibility. That means your healthcare needs will be covered by Medicaid benefits too.
Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI)
People who have worked recently can receive Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI. If you have been employed for five of the last 10 years, you are eligible for these benefits. However, people under 31 years old will have slightly different requirements because they haven’t been in the workforce for a very long time.
Let our team help you navigate the complex claims process and fight for the benefits you deserve.
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Stages of the FL Social Security Disability Claims Process:
The process of making a claim can be long and hard, especially when you really need the help. Most people never get past the first stage of applying for disability benefits, especially if they don’t have a lawyer to help them.
Let’s go over the five main steps to the SSD claim process:
1. Application
Filing an application for Social Security Disability benefits is the initial step. Either visit a local Social Security office or go online to handle this.
2. Review
A claims examiner will consider your application after it has been submitted. If you apply for disability benefits, the government will look at your medical records, employment history, and other factors to see if you qualify.
3. Initial Determination
The Claims Examiner will assess your submission and make an initial decision on whether to approve your claim. Your eligibility for benefits is contingent on the outcome of this claim. Approximately 40 percent of the claims are approved at this stage.If it’s accepted, you’re on your way to receiving disability benefits. But if it’s turned down, you still have options. You can choose to move on to the next step—reconsideration.
If your claim is rejected, you have 60 days from receiving the notice to ask for it to be reviewed again through the appeals process. This is known as filing a request for reconsideration.
You can request reconsideration by submitting an iAppeal, writing a letter, or setting up an in-person meeting. If the reconsideration request is accepted, a new Claims Examiner will go through your paperwork and the additional details you’ve provided.
They’ll reevaluate your case and decide if you’re qualified for benefits. Keep in mind that only about 20 percent of individuals win at this stage.
5. Hearing
If your claim is refused again after a request for reconsideration, you have the right to file an appeal and request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
There are only three people present at this informal hearing: the judge, his secretary, and a vocational expert who will speak about the defendant’s qualifications.
If you have any fresh information or proof, you can bring it up at the hearing and present it. The court will then rule on whether you are disabled and entitled to benefits.
Don’t be surprised if you’re denied! This is why it’s crucial that you hire an SSD lawyer in Florida for the best possible outcome.
If you want your Florida Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to be looked at again, you should hire an experienced SSDI lawyer from Brooks’ law firm to file an appeal and represent you through the appeals process.
Our social security disability lawyers have helped people who wanted disability benefits in thousands of cases. That experience means that if you contact us to handle your denied disability claim, you will have an attorney who knows the disability law well and who is familiar with the administrative and court processes in your community.
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Social Security Disability Claims: Do I Qualify?
If you are unable to work as a result of an illness or injury and have worked and paid taxes into the Social Security system for at least five of the past ten years, you may be eligible for disability benefits under the Social Security program.
The Social Security Administration requires you to provide proof that you:
- Are unable to perform your previous job.
- Are unable to perform any other type of work in the present economy.
- Have a medical condition that will last at least a year.
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How Do I Apply for Social Security Disability in Florida?
There are two ways that you can apply to receive benefits.
You can:
- Apply at the official Social Security Administration website.
- Call toll-free 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment to file a disability claim at your local Social Security office or to have someone take your claim over the phone.
The disability claims interview lasts about an hour. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days.
If you schedule an appointment, a Disability Starter Kit will be mailed to you. The Disability Starter Kit will help you get ready for your disability claims interview. If you apply online, the Disability Starter Kit is available at www.ssa.gov/disability.
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What to Remember When Filing an SSDI Claim in Florida
It’s impossible to give anyone enough advice for their claim to be accepted without reviewing their individual case because every claim is different. The SSDI attorneys at Brooks Law Group will work with you one-on-one and give you all the information you need to present your unique case.
But there are some easy rules you can follow to benefit your claim:
- Tell the truth at all times.
- Don’t play down your health issues, but don’t exaggerate them either.
- Do not give vague or general evidence; instead, include all important details and specific instances.
- For the duration of your claim, you should maintain regular visits with your doctor. Lack of medical care for extended periods may be used as proof that you were not disabled.
In the event that you become flustered or fail to bring forward important information at your administrative hearing, your lawyer will be there to aid you.
What Can A Social Security Disability Attorney Do For Me?
At Brooks Law Group, we want to be involved in your Social Security Disability claim right from the beginning. In this way, we can protect your rights throughout the entire Social Security process and get you the best results possible.
We can help you:
- Complete the application during the initial stage.
- At the reconsideration stage.
- During your formal hearing with the Administrative Law Judge.
We will assist you through every step of the Social Security Disability claims process.
Our team can:
- Work closely with your physicians and specialists to obtain the necessary reports to support your claim
- Assist you in creating detailed records of your condition and the impact it has had on your life, which will be crucial in front of a judge
- Keep track of the status of your claim as it progresses through the Social Security Administration system.
- Request additional medical evidence from your doctors if needed to strengthen your case
- Present your case on your behalf at the administrative hearing, using our extensive experience to make a persuasive argument to the judge
- Skillfully ask you the right questions during the hearing to ensure that all pertinent information is presented in the most effective way possible
- Lay the groundwork for a successful appeal if the initial decision is not in your favor
- When you work with us, you can trust that we will do everything in our power to help you obtain the disability benefits you deserve. Let us guide you through this process with our expertise and personalized support.
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