SSDI Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, Compassionately Assisting Disability Claimants
When an injury or illness causes long-term consequences serious enough to keep you out of work, one place you can turn for support is the Social Security Administration. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are meant to help the injured when significant physical or mental health conditions impact their ability to work, but these benefits are often difficult to attain. Due to the highly technical eligibility requirements, complex applications, and high rate of claim denials, it’s valuable to have an experienced Florida Social Security Disability lawyer advocating for you.
At Dan Stewart Law Firm, we take our clients’ cases seriously because we know how important it is that you receive the benefits you’re entitled to. We’ll pursue the outcome you deserve as efficiently as possible using our extensive knowledge of this federal program, its application process, and the procedures required to access the benefits you’re entitled to. Contact us today to take advantage of a free consultation with a knowledgeable SSDI attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL.
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850-972-8002Social Security Disability Benefits Help in Florida
Getting the benefits you need may be more challenging than you initially thought. It’s not as simple as getting diagnosed with a condition that qualifies for the program and promptly receiving benefits as a result. You need to manage a demanding application process—one in which more applications are initially denied than approved.
Due to the struggles that come with applying for Social Security Disability benefits, it’s not unusual for an applicant to need professional legal guidance to streamline their path forward. Our firm practices Social Security Disability law, helping clients facing serious injuries and illnesses get the assistance they deserve and minimizing the stress and worry associated with this process.
What Is SSDI?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that provides monthly payments to people who have a disability that affects their ability to work.
For people whose injury or illness is so all-encompassing that it limits their ability to earn a living, SSDI monthly payments, along with Medicare enrollment (which occurs automatically two years after you become entitled to SSDI benefits), can be a lifeline. However, getting access to these benefits isn’t easy.
Strict Eligibility Requirements for SSDI
To be eligible for SSDI payments, you need to have a qualifying disability that impacts your capacity to work for at least a year. Social Security Disability is a program for disabled workers, and you must have a sufficient work history to qualify for benefits. Generally, that means working for at least five of the last 10 years, but young claimants under age 24 are subject to different requirements.
Examples of Conditions That May Qualify You for Disability Benefits
Types of conditions that can qualify you for SSDI benefits, assuming you meet eligibility requirements, include:
- Blindness or deafness
- Orthopedic or musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis, sciatica, or back pain severe enough to limit your daily activities
- Respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis, if you are on oxygen, in respiratory failure, or have recently required hospitalization
- Cardiovascular conditions such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and aneurysms, particularly if these conditions cause you to feel breathless when engaging in physical activity
- Digestive system disorders, such as those that involve bowel obstructions, necessitate nutrition through a feeding tube, or require a colostomy bag
- Chronic kidney disease, particularly if you suffer from renal failure and are receiving dialysis
- Blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease, bone marrow failure disorders, and certain types of anemia, when they require regular transfusions, have led to repeat hospitalization, or result in consequences that significantly limit your activities
- Endocrine disorders, including diabetes, when these disorders involve insulin dependency, vision problems, and loss of sensation in or amputation of a limb
- Cancers of many types, including but not limited to breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma
- Immune disorders, such as lupus and HIV/AIDS
- Neurological disorders that affect your ability to work, including Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, severe migraines, multiple sclerosis (MS), and traumatic brain injury
Because the Social Security Administration uses different criteria for different types of conditions—and considers multiple factors in determining eligibility—it can be difficult to determine for sure whether you are eligible for SSDI benefits or to effectively make the case for receiving the benefits you deserve. Additionally, if you’re diagnosed with certain conditions, you may be able to get your benefits fast-tracked under the compassionate allowance program.
Our Florida Social Security Disability lawyer can review the specifics of your case to determine how to best move forward with a claim for the benefits you deserve.
Social Security’s High Rate of Benefit Denials
Unfortunately, the process of obtaining the benefits you deserve is far from simple. According to the Social Security Administration’s 2023 Annual Statistical Report, denied disability claims averaged 68 percent over the previous decade. More initial applications are denied than approved.
There are numerous reasons for SSDI benefit claim denials, including:
- Insufficient medical evidence provided to document the disability
- Failure to follow the treatment plan or gaps in care, which the Social Security Administration may view as contradicting claims that the individual is disabled
- Earnings that exceed the allowed amount, if you’re still able to work in some capacity
- Failure to respond to requests for additional information
- The filing of a new application instead of properly using the appeal process after an initial application denial
If your circumstances should make you eligible for benefits, getting your application approved may require compiling more extensive documentation and presenting the strongest case possible through your application or in an appeal.
The Benefits of Retaining Our SSDI Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL
For severely injured or ill individuals in Florida who can’t work, this whole ordeal can feel like an emotional roller coaster. First, you’re stressed over the reality that you can’t support yourself or your family because your medical condition keeps you from working. Learning that SSDI benefits could be a possibility provides some hope—only for the challenging process, burdensome demands, and high likelihood of a denial to worry you all over again.
Having a legal advocate working on your Social Security Disability claim means having peace of mind for the application process. You won’t have to stumble through the demands of gathering the right documentation and managing the application yourself. We’re here for you at every stage.
How Dan Stewart Law Firm Can Help
At Dan Stewart Law Firm, we help injured and ill clients get their claims for SSDI benefits approved through:
- An initial free consultation that allows us to assess the facts and advise you on your eligibility for benefits
- Gathering of further documentation to support your claim for SSDI benefits
- Preparation and submission of application forms to ensure all required documents and information are included from the get-go, reducing the likelihood of delays and denials due to inadequate documentation
- Representation in the appeals process, including any hearings, if your initial claim has been denied
Having our Florida Social Security Disability lawyer handling your case means less stress, reduced chance of delays or denials, and a more efficient process for pursuing the benefits you’re entitled to.
Why Choose Dan Stewart Law Firm as Your Florida Social Security Disability Lawyer?
At Dan Stewart Law Firm, we’re known for our compassionate approach, dedication to clients, and exceptional results.
Our Compassionate Understanding of Injuries
Having spent decades practicing personal injury law, we recognize how seriously an illness or injury can affect your life. We bring a thorough understanding of the challenges you’re facing, rooted in the utmost compassion, to every SSDI benefits case we handle.
Willingness to Fight for Our Clients
Just knowing that you have someone who is prepared to fight for your interests is powerful. Our team doesn’t back down from a challenge. That includes preparing effective applications for Social Security Disability benefits despite the program’s notoriously high rate of denials.
A Commitment to Getting Results
When you retain our firm as your Social Security Disability lawyer, we’re prepared to take your case as far as necessary. If we believe you are eligible for benefits, we will work tirelessly to overcome obstacles and, if necessary, to appeal claim denials.
Contact a Florida Social Security Disability Lawyer at Dan Stewart Law Firm Today for a Free Case Review
Don’t take chances with your SSDI benefits application. Entrust your claim to a professional who knows how the process works and how to strategically prepare your application for the most efficient resolution possible.
For help from an experienced SSDI attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, contact Dan Stewart Law Firm online or call 850-972-8002 today.