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State DocumentsThe Social Security Administration maintains two programs that provide financial assistance to individuals with disabilities who are unable to work. The good news is that if you qualify, you can get monthly payments for your living expenses. The bad news is that most people have their initial applications for Social Security Disability benefits denied. An experienced Pasco County SSD lawyer can help you prepare your initial application or appeal a denied claim to pursue the benefits you need. At the Disability Law Firm, we have more than 20 years of experience helping clients in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey, Zephyrhills, and throughout Pasco County obtain the SSD benefits they need. We can take the pressure off you by handling all the details of your claim from start to finish, including representing you through the appeals process if necessary. Throughout your case, we will keep you updated every step of the way so you feel confident your claim is in good hands. Contact us today for a free initial case evaluation with an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer in Pasco County, FL. We do not charge any fees upfront to work on your case. In fact, you only pay us if we recover benefits for you. Social Security Definition of DisabilityA person may be declared disabled and therefore eligible for SSD benefits when he or he is unable to engage in any substantial work due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. The impairment must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 consecutive months. Conditions that are expected to result in death also qualify. The Social Security Administration maintains a list of medical conditions and impairments that qualify as a disability. This document is known as the Blue Book. However, the Blue Book doesn’t provide an exhaustive list of qualifying conditions. Instead, any impairment may qualify as a disability if the applicant is found to lack the residual functional capacity to perform any past work or any other work that exists in the national economy. What Are the Types of Social Security Disability Benefits?The Social Security Administration manages two separate programs that provide disability benefits: the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. What’s the Difference Between SSDI and SSI?SSDI benefits are meant for recently working individuals who suffer a disabling condition or impairment. To qualify for SSDI, an applicant must possess sufficient minimum work credits, meaning time in which the applicant earned a certain threshold of income subject to Social Security taxes. Applicants must also have a certain minimum amount of recent work history. The work credit and recent work history thresholds vary depending on an applicant’s age, and younger workers have lower thresholds. SSDI recipients may have any amount of prior income or current financial assets. The SSDI program is not intended for people who perform gainful work. But recipients may take advantage of a program that allows them to try going back to work while not jeopardizing their SSDI benefits. On the other hand, SSI benefits are intended for disabled or blind individuals or people age 65 or older with low or no income or financial assets. SSI benefits require no work history, as the benefits don’t come out of the Social Security program. Instead, applicants must fall below certain economic thresholds. This includes having an average monthly income below the federal benefits rate and less than $2,000 ($3,000 for couples) in assets, excluding certain property such as a primary residence or vehicle. When to Apply for SSD BenefitsWhen you have been severely injured or diagnosed with a medical condition that renders you unable to work, you may wish to apply for SSD benefits as quickly as possible to make up for lost income. Some applicants choose to wait to apply for SSD benefits until after they receive a final prognosis for their injuries or medical condition. Because a qualifying disability must last or be expected to last for at least 12 months or be expected to result in death, applying for SSD benefits too quickly may result in the SSA ruling that your disability doesn’t meet the regulatory definition. If your medical providers don’t know how long your disability may last, it could be a good idea to delay your application. However, each case is different and you should contact a Social Security Disability attorney to make sure you don’t miss out on benefits if you wait to file. How to Apply for Disability Benefits in Pasco CountyBefore applying for disability benefits in Pasco County, you’ll need to gather various documents and information to fill out the questions on the application form. Some of this documentation should be submitted with your application. Documents you may need to apply for SSD benefits include:
In addition to these documents, you’ll need the following information on hand when filling out the SSD benefits application:
You can submit your application for disability benefits online or over the phone. You may also visit your local Social Security office to apply. SSA Offices in Pasco CountyPasco County has two Social Security Administration offices:
How Long Does It Take to Get SSD Benefits?The time that it may take to have your SSD benefits application approved can vary. An initial review of an SSD benefits application usually takes three to five months, based on whether the claims examiner must obtain additional medical evidence from you. For example, the examiner might ask you to submit to a consultive medical evaluation. If you request reconsideration of a denied application, the additional review can take months, depending on whether the new claims examiner requires updated medical information. If you seek a hearing by an administrative law judge (ALJ) after reconsideration is denied, you might have to wait as long as a year or more for a hearing. Once the hearing is held, it can take ALJ months to render a decision. If your SSD benefits application is approved, you will start receiving SSDI benefits beginning six months following the date that your disability was determined to have begun. Certain disabilities may entitle you to receive SSDI benefits immediately following approval. SSI benefits begin the month after your application is approved. What To Do If Your SSD Claim Is DeniedIf your initial application is denied, you can pursue the SSA’s four-step appeals process. At each stage, you have 60 days from the receipt of notice of an adverse decision to file the formal appeal paperwork. The appeals process begins with reconsideration, in which a different claims examiner conducts a completely new review of your application. You have the opportunity during the reconsideration process to submit new documents or information to correct any errors you made on your initial application or provide additional evidence in support of your claim. If the second claims examiner also denies your application, you can request a hearing by an administrative law judge. The hearing typically takes place in person but can be done via videoconference or over the phone. It usually lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. During the hearing, the ALJ will hear testimony from you and a vocational expert. The ALJ and/or your attorney will ask you questions about your work history, your medical condition, and your physical or mental limitations. The vocational expert will provide technical testimony about what type of work someone with your condition could or could not do. Your attorney may cross-examine this expert. Once testimony is complete, the judge may ask for a closing statement or additional comments. You will typically receive the judge’s decision in one to three months, but it can take longer in some cases. If the ALJ rules against you, you can request a review by the SSA’s Appeals Council. The Appeals Council looks at all requests but could deny review if it finds no clear legal error by the ALJ. If the Appeals Council accepts the review, it can either issue its own decision or return the case back to the ALJ for further review of your claim. After the Appeals Council, the last possible step in the appeals process is filing a civil lawsuit in federal court. How Our Pasco County Disability Lawyers Can Help YouThe SSD application process can seem complex and stressful for someone dealing with the Social Security system for the first time. But you don’t have to do it alone. A Pasco County disability lawyer from the Disability Law Firm can help guide you through the application process by:
When you need help applying for disability benefits in Pasco County, FL, contact us online or call the Disability Law Firm today. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss how our firm can assist you. How do I contact my local Social Security office?You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Office Locator. You can call our National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Can I call my local Social Security office with questions?CONTACTING SOCIAL SECURITY
We are available to assist you by telephone, mail, or at www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/ through the internet. Our toll-free number is 1-800-772-1213. Teleservice representatives are on duty to answer your calls between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Are Social Security offices open for walk ins?Social Security Administration to Resume In-Person Services at Local Social Security Offices. I am pleased to announce that local Social Security offices will restore in-person services, including for people without an appointment, on April 7, 2022.
How do I schedule an appointment with Social Security?If you do need an appointment you can schedule, reschedule, or cancel an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday or contacting your local Social Security office.
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