Social Security Disability Benefits In Florida

Bureau Of Medical Disability Information Services

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Benefits For Your Children

When you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, your children may also qualify to receive benefits on your record. Your eligible child can be your biological child, adopted child, or stepchild. A dependent grandchild may also qualify.

To receive benefits, the child must:

• Be under age 18 or
• Be 18-19 years old and a full-time student or

How Do I Know If I Qualify For Social Security Disability Insurance

To be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance , you must:

• Have a qualifying disability
• Have worked long enough and paid into the Social Security program

Our knowledgeable Florida Social Security Disability lawyers will review the SSDI eligibility requirements with you and assess your situation to determine how you should proceed. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

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Getting The Help You Need

The Florida disability application process has its challenges, but receiving the SSDI or SSI benefits youre entitled to can be accomplished more easily with a disability advocate at your side. Our advocates know how to cut through the red tape to help get your disability application approved if its not, well go to work to ensure a fast appeal process. At Disability Experts of Florida, we have over 100 years of combined experience navigating the Sunshine States application process and have helped thousands receive the disability benefits they deserve. We can help you too.

Understanding Social Security Benefits

There are two different forms of Social Security:

• Social Security Disability: Social Security Disability provides income and benefits to people who have worked and paid social security taxes in the past, but are now too disabled to gain income.
• Supplemental Security Income: Supplemental Security Income provides disabled individuals with income regardless of whether or not they have been employed in the past.

For both Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income, you must show that your disability will prevent you from gaining income or employment for at least one year.

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How Do I Know If I Have Worked Enough To Qualify For Ssdi

To qualify for SSDI, you must have paid enough into the Social Security system during the years you were working. In addition, you must have worked recently enough .

Social Security uses a system of work credits that are based on your annual income. A person can earn up to four credits per year.

In general, you will need 40 credits to qualify for SSDI, and 20 of those must have been earned in the past 10 years. However, the number of credits you need can vary depending on your age.

To learn more about how your work history affects your SSDI eligibility, read the Social Security Administrations booklet How You Earn Credits.

Your Ssd Payment Amounts Depend On A Wide Variety Of Factors

To be eligible for SSD, you first must have a medical condition that qualifies, and you generally must be unable to work for a year or more. SSD benefit payment amounts can depend on many factors, including:

• The work credits youve earned working for jobs covered by Social Security

Keep in mind that Social Security payments do not depend on your level of disability. There is no scale or percentile to determine how disabled someone is. Legally, you are either disabled or not disabled.

The Veterans Administration may have some input about your personal injury that can influence the judges determination of how much you can receive.

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Benefits For Widows Or Widowers With Disabilities

If something happens to a worker, benefits may be payable to their widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse with a disability if the following conditions are met:

• The widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse is between ages 50 and 60.
• The widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse has a medical condition that meets our definition of disability for adults and the disability started before or within seven years of the worker’s death.

Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses cannot apply online for survivors benefits. If they want to apply for these benefits, they should contact Social Security immediately at 1-800-772-1213 to request an appointment

To speed up the application process, complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of your appointment.

We use the same definition of disability for widows and widowers as we do for workers.

Apply For Benefits Online

You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you develop a disability. Follow these easy steps to apply online for disability:

• To start your application, go to our Apply for Benefits page, and read and agree to the Terms of Service. Click Next.
• On that page, review the Getting Ready section to make sure you have the information you need to apply.
• Select Start A New Application.
• We will ask a few questions about who is filling out the application.
• You will then sign in to your personal mySocial Security account, or you will be prompted to create one.
• Complete the application.

You can use the online application to apply for disability benefits if you:

• Are age 18 or older.
• Are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record.
• Are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
• Have not been denied for disability in the last 60 days.

Note: If your application was recently denied, our application is a starting point to request a review of the determination we made.

You may be able to file online for SSI at the same time that you file for SSDI benefits. Once you complete the online process described above, a Social Security representative will contact you if we need additional information.

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Apply Online For Disability Benefits

Social Security offers an online disability application you can complete at your convenience. Apply from the comfort of your home or any location at a time most convenient for you. You do not need to drive to your local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative.

You can use the online application to apply for disability benefits if you:

• Are age 18 or older
• Are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record
• Are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death: and
• Have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days. If your application was recently denied for medical reasons, the Internet Appeal is a starting point to request a review of the medical determination we made.

• Print and review the Adult Disability Checklist.

  It will help you gather the information you need to complete the application.

We suggest that you have the following information at hand. It will make completing the application much easier.

We may ask you to provide documents to show that you are eligible, such as:

Important

We accept photocopies of W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns or medical documents, but we must see the original of most other documents, such as your birth certificate.

Mailing Your Documents

After we receive your online application, we will:

Eligibility Requirements For Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits

The SSA manages a federal benefits program for people whose health issues force them to stop working. However, SSDI isnt available to people who havent worked recently or for enough years to qualify. Keep reading to find out if you may qualify for Florida disability benefits through the SSDI program.

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Applying For Disability Benefits In Florida Guide

There is no doubt that applying for disability benefits in Florida can be a challenging decision to make for people with disabilities. There can be a lot of difficulty for you when you realize that you need Social Security Disability because you have worked hard all of your life. The good news is that there is no reason to feel bad about your decision. A quarter of working-age adults will face this dilemma before they retire, and around 25% of them will have to make this decision themselves. A healthy and enjoyable life is not always guaranteed, and many people develop debilitating health conditions without fault.

Benefits Will Be More Generous Next Year

Even amid the uncertainty surrounding the future of Social Security, beneficiaries can expect to see bigger monthly checks next year.

Due to high inflation, estimates show the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is poised to be the highest in decades, according to The Senior Citizens League.

The nonpartisan seniors group’s latest estimate points to an 8.7% COLA for 2023. One more month of consumer price index data will come in before the official bump for next year is announced by the Social Security Administration.

Reduced premiums for Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient care, will be reduced by about 3% next year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said on Tuesday.

The standard monthly premium will be $164.90 in 2023, down from $170.10 this year. Because those premiums are often deducted directly from Social Security checks, beneficiaries will be poised to take home more money.

“In this time of rising prices, there is going to be a substantial cost-of-living adjustment in January and a reduction in the Medicare premium,” Altman said.

In other years, when the COLA has been smaller and Medicare Part B premiums larger, beneficiaries were less likely to see any increase to their benefits, she noted.

“This is a year when everyone will see an increase,” Altman said.

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Can You Do Any Other Type Of Work

If you cant do the work you did in the past, we look to see if there is other work you could do despite your medical impairment.

We consider your medical conditions, age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may have. If you cant do other work, well decide you qualify for disability benefits. If you can do other work, well decide that you dont have a qualifying disability and your claim will be denied.

Florida Social Security Disability

There are more than 11 million residents living in the State of Florida. Approximately 461,000 of these residents receive Social Security Disability benefits. To qualify Social Security disability benefits in Florida, you must meet the SSA’s guidelines for disability as well as meet the work or income requirements.

Each year, thousands more will apply for benefits as a result of an unexpected long-term or permanent disability in the State of Florida. Unfortunately, approximately 65 percent of initial Florida Social Security Disability applications are denied by the Social Security Administration . The majority of Florida Social Security Disability applicants are also denied at the first stage of the appeal process, which is called the Request for Reconsideration. In order for most Florida Social Security Disability applicants to receive disability benefits from the SSA, they must request a hearing before an administrative law judge.

While the hearing stage of the disability appeal process is when most disability applicants are awarded Social Security Disability benefits, obtaining a disability hearing before an administrative law judge takes time. In the State of Florida, it can take anywhere from 376 to 682 days to obtain a disability hearing. Once you have had your case heard before an administrative law judge, it will take another 45 to 90 days to receive a decision regarding your disability claim.

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Applying For Social Security Benefits

The application process for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income can be very difficult. We will work with you and help you apply for the benefits you need. Sometimes, legitimate claimants are denied social security disability because they fail to complete all the appropriate forms or provide convincing evidence of their disability.

If you are denied Social Security Disability, we will help you appeal the decision until you recover the benefits you need. Our attorneys have experience reviewing medical records and showing that our clients deserve Social Security benefits.

Once your Social Security Disability has been approved, you will be reimbursed compensation for the benefits you would have been receiving from the time you first applied.

How Do I Check The Status Of My Social Security Disability Claim

Filing for Social Security Disability means that someone who worked hard for years suffered a serious injury or illness that is preventing them from being able to earn enough income to support themselves and their family. No one who files for SSD benefits has the luxury to wait patiently for an unlimited period of time to learn what the Social Security Administration decided is the claim approved or denied?

Here at Disability Experts of Florida, we know how frustrating it can be to wait and wonder whether your SSD claim will be approved, or how far along in the process has your claim progressed. This blog post will give you some tips on how you can check the status of your SSD claim, but youll also read how you can ensure that your claim moves as quickly and as steadily as possible through the Social Security bureaucracy.

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Eligibility Requirements For Supplemental Security Income Benefits

If youre 65 or older, havent paid FICA taxes or stopped working more than five years ago, apply for SSI. SSI is a federal assistance program that helps only the poorest Americans who cannot work make ends meet. This program also has financial eligibility requirements you must meet in order to qualify for monthly payments. While the SSI program pays a lot less to approved Florida disability claimants, payments keep going after your 65th birthday.

Adults With A Disability That Began Before Age 22

An adult who has a disability that began before age 22 may be eligible for benefits if their parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. We consider this a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.

The Disabled Adult Child who may be an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild must be unmarried, age 18 or older, have a qualified disability that started before age 22, and meet the definition of disability for adults.

Example

It is not necessary that the DAC ever worked. Benefits are paid based on the parent’s earnings record.

• A DAC must not have substantial earnings. The amount of earnings we consider substantial increases each year. In 2022, this means working and earning more than $1,350 a month.

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Ssdi Vs Ssi: Whats The Difference

The Social Security Administration manages two programs that may provide benefits to disabled workers. They differ in purpose and scope, and not all workers qualify for both.

• Social Security Disability Insurance : SSDI pays benefits to you and to certain family members if you or they qualify as disabled and you are insured, meaning you worked long enough and paid enough in Social Security taxes to be covered.
• Supplemental Security Income : SSI pays benefits based on financial need to those who are over age 65, deaf, blind or disabled and unable to work. Although it is run by Social Security, the funds come from the U.S. Treasury, not the Social Security fund. Your work history is not a factor in qualifying for SSI.

An experienced Florida Social Security Disability attorney can help you determine whether you may qualify for SSDI, SSI or both, and file the necessary paperwork to seek benefits. If you have already applied and received an initial denial, our lawyers can help you appeal.

How To Apply For Disability In Florida

Applying for Social Security Disability benefits in Florida is just like applying in any other state. This is because Social Security Disability benefit programs are federal and are provided by the United States government through the Social Security Administration . Even though each state follows the typical application process, there can be minor differences between states such as approval rates and state supplements. The following information is an overview of Social Security Disability in Florida.

To find your local Social Security field office, Disability Determinations Services office, or an Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in Florida, click here.

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Social Security Disability Lawyers Are Closer Than You Think

Are you tired of Googling disability lawyers near me? We get it. Social Security attorneys exist to represent you in court and help you handle and present your case. Although the law never requires you to hire an attorney either during the initial application or throughout the case, the system often favors those who do.

A lot of paperwork filing is necessary to support your claim, and many legal complexities are hard to navigate. People often dont call a lawyer until their application is denied and they desire to go through an appeal. Instead, its better to pursue your case with expertise on your side from the beginning.