Gainesville Social Security Disability Lawyers
You may be entitled to benefits through the federal Social Security Disability Insurance program if you suffer from a debilitating medical condition. Set yourself up for a successful result by turning to our trusted Gainesville disability attorneys for help. For over four decades, we’ve helped clients get the benefits they deserve.
If you’re permanently disabled or suffer from a serious medical condition, you may qualify for federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, the SSDI claims process is challenging, so you may want to work with an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer in Florida, to help you get the benefits you deserve.
Farah & Farah has been a leading advocate for injured workers and families in Gainesville for over 40 years. Our award-winning Florida litigators focus on teamwork, collaboration, and prioritizing client needs, which has helped our law firm win over $2 billion in benefits packages, settlements, and jury verdicts.
Contact our law office in Gainesville, Florida, at (352) 505-8093 to enlist the help of our top-rated legal team. We offer a free consultation.
Why Choose Farah & Farah To Help With Your Claim For Social Security Disability in Gainesville, FL
Hiring a personal injury attorney in Gainesville can help you navigate the SSDI claims process, fight appeals, and ultimately recover the benefits you need to support yourself and your family.
Your choice of attorney matters. Here are some key reasons for choosing to work with Farah & Farah:
- We’ve fought for injury victims, disabled workers, and grieving families in Florida since 1979.
- Our attorneys have been recognized as Best Lawyers in Jacksonville by Folio Magazine and Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers.
- We’re committed to treating each client we represent with the honesty, dignity, and respect they deserve.
- We stay actively involved in the community to embrace our home-grown roots.
- Our case results show we have a proven track record of getting maximum client compensation and benefits.
- Our former clients are our most vocal advocates, as you can see from these reviews and testimonials.
- There is no cost to hire our SSDI attorneys in Gainesville unless we help you secure benefits.
You deserve to work with a team of legal advocates who genuinely care about you and achieve the best possible outcome in your claim for SSDI benefits. That’s why Farah & Farah should be your first call for help when seeking compensation.
Call our law office in Gainesville, FL, at (352) 505-8093 to learn more and schedule a free case evaluation now.
Our firm wins more than the national average in recovering social security benefits for clients that were initially denied.
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How Our Gainesville Disability Lawyers Can Help You and Your Family
Most initial applications for Social Security Disability Benefits are denied. Denials often happen because applications are incomplete or because claimants fail to convey the seriousness of their medical condition.
When you’re disabled, SSDI benefits can be instrumental in helping you make ends meet. You’ll want to expedite the claims process and get benefits in your hands as quickly as possible—and that’s where Farah & Farah can help.
Count on our legal team in Gainesville to do the following:
- Obtain appropriate medical records, work records, and other evidence needed to build a compelling claim for benefits.
- Consult with trusted medical professionals, vocational specialists, and other experts as we prepare your claim.
- Complete the necessary documents and submit your claim for SSDI benefits on your behalf.
- Ensure appropriate procedural requirements and filing deadlines are satisfied.
- File necessary appeals if and when your claim for SSDI benefits is denied.
- Represent you during all hearings and advocate to secure the compensation you deserve.
Trust our team to fight to get the best possible outcome in your SSDI benefits case.
What Is Social Security Disability?
Social Security Disability Insurance is a federally-run insurance program that provides monetary benefits to workers who have suffered a debilitating injury or illness. To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have contributed to the Social Security system through wage withholdings.
What Does the SSA Consider a Disability?
The Social Security Administration oversees the Social Security Disability Insurance program. The agency has strict definitions for what can qualify as a disability. Generally, to qualify as a disability, your medical condition must be so severe that it has prevented you from performing basic work-related tasks for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death.
The SSA has a list of medical conditions that are generally accepted disabilities. These include the following conditions:
- Amputation
- Asthma
- Autism
- Blindness
- Burns
- Cerebral palsy
- Chronic heart failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Dermatitis
- Epilepsy
- Hearing loss
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Major depressive disorder
- Multiple sclerosis
- Traumatic brain injury
Disabilities can result from accidents, workplace injuries, birth injuries, genetic conditions, etc. As long as the condition is serious and prevents the worker from performing basic tasks on the job, it can qualify as a disability for SSDI.
How Do I Qualify for SSDI Benefits?
The Social Security Administration will only approve claims for SSDI benefits if you satisfy all requirements for the program. Here’s what the SSA will consider when you apply for benefits:
Do You Have Enough Work Credits?
Generally, you must have held a job and contributed to the Social Security system through payroll withholdings. When you work, you earn work credits. Work credits are directly related to the amount of work performed and the wages earned.
You must have accumulated enough work credits to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Typically, you’ll need 40 credits, 20 of which have been earned over the past 10 years.
In 2023, one work credit is earned for every $1,640 in wages or self-employment income.
Are You Currently Working?
SSDI benefits are typically paid to individuals who cannot work in any capacity. If you earn more than $1,470 a month, you will likely not qualify for the SSDI program.
Is Your Medical Condition Serious?
Specifically, the SSA will examine whether your condition has prevented you from engaging in basic work activities—such as sitting, standing, or lifting—for the past 12 months.
Is Your Medical Condition Found on the SSA’s List of Disabling Conditions?
The SSA has an extensive list of medical conditions generally assumed to be disabling. If your specific medical issue is on this list, it can help to demonstrate the seriousness of your condition and inability to work.
If your condition is not on the list, you must submit documentation demonstrating its seriousness and impact on your ability to work.
Can You Perform Other Work?
The SSA doesn’t just want to know if you can do your current job. It will also want to know if you can perform other jobs you’ve held in the past or other roles that your disability might not impact. If you can work in any capacity, the SSA will likely not award SSDI benefits.
How Do I Apply for Social Security Disability in Florida?
There are a few ways to apply for SSDI benefits in Gainesville, Florida.
Apply Online: For traditional SSDI benefits, you can apply online at www.ssa.gov. When you visit the website, you can check your eligibility or go straight to the application process.
Visit Your Local SSA Office: You can also apply in person at the Social Security Administration Office at 4562 NW 13th St in Gainesville, Florida. You will need to schedule an appointment before your visit.
Schedule a Phone Interview: You can also schedule an appointment with a local representative. During this phone call, the representative will help you complete the application for SSDI benefits.
You’ll need a lot of information when you file your claim, including:
- Your date and place of birth.
- Social Security number.
- Personal information for your spouse or former spouse.
- Personal information for minor children.
- Bank account information.
- Names and contact information for all medical providers you’ve seen for your condition.
- Detailed information about your medical condition, including diagnoses, dates of treatment, medication, and tests.
- Work history detailing your employment over the past 15 years.
- Wages and income earned in the past two years.
- Information concerning workers’ compensation benefits received.
Be ready to provide W2s, military discharge papers, medical records, your birth certificate, and other documents to support your claim for benefits.
The application process can be complicated. Our experienced SSDI lawyers in Gainesville can help you complete your request for benefits and ensure its completeness and accuracy.
What Happens If My Claim for SSDI Benefits Is Denied?
Don’t give up hope if your initial claim for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits is denied. According to the SSA, around two-thirds of all disability applications are denied. There are four ways to appeal the denial.
Request for Reconsideration
If your initial request for SSDI benefits is denied, you’ll have 60 days to file a request for reconsideration. You can file the request online or mail form SSA-561-U2 to your local office in Gainesville.
During reconsideration, Disability Determination Services will conduct a complete review of your claim. A medical consultant and a claims examiner who were not involved in the initial review will sit in.
Administrative Law Judge Hearing
If the DDS denies your claim after a request for reconsideration, you can request to have the claim reviewed by an Administrative Law Judge or ALJ, who is responsible for reviewing the evidence of your medical condition, conducting a hearing, and making a decision. You’ll have 60 days from receiving notice of the denial to request an ALJ hearing.
During this hearing, you’ll be able to present new evidence, offer witnesses and experts, and make a more compelling argument that you deserve benefits.
Appeals Council Review
If the Administrative Law Judge denies your claim for benefits, you can file a request with the Appeals Council.
The Appeals Council is the last administrative review of the appeals process and typically only reviews claims when it finds a flaw in the ALJ’s decision. It might grant a review if it believes the Judge abused their discretion, made an error or law, or made a decision that wasn’t supported by evidence.
If the Appeals Council agrees to review your case, it can either remand it to the Administrative Law Judge or issue a decision.
Federal Court Review
Social Security Disability FAQs
If you lose your appeal before the Appeals Council, you have one final opportunity to have your claim for SSDI benefits reviewed. The final step is filing a claim in the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Gainesville.
Farah & Farah can help you navigate the appeals process and fight to obtain the disability benefits you need and deserve. Call our SSDI attorneys in Gainesville, FL, at (352) 505-8093 to schedule a free consultation now.
Can I Still Get SSDI Benefits if I Return To Work?
In some cases, yes. The SSA has special rules that permit claimants to return to work – often on a trial basis – while still receiving benefits. This can help ensure that you can perform basic work-related tasks for an extended period without cutting off the benefits you need to support yourself.
What’s the Difference between Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance?
Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a need-based program that provides benefits to low-income individuals who are over retirement age or suffer from a disability.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), on the other hand, is a benefits program available to workers who suffer from medical conditions preventing them from performing basic work-related tasks. You can receive SSDI benefits if you have a disability and have accumulated sufficient work credits.
How Long Will It Take to Receive SSDI Benefits After My Claim Is Approved?
According to the Social Security Administration, there’s typically a five-month waiting period once your claim for SSDI benefits is received. Payment begins in the sixth full month of disability.
What Are DAC and DWB Benefits?
Social Security Disability Insurance can also provide Disabled Adult Children (DAC) and Widows/Widowers (DWB) benefits.
DAC benefits can be paid to your unmarried adult child who suffered a qualifying disability before age 22. Benefits are available when a parent dies or begins to collect Social Security retirement benefits.
DWB benefits can be paid to a surviving spouse or former spouse when a worker dies. Benefits are available if the widow or widower is at least 50 but not more than 60 years old and suffers a disability within seven years of the worker’s death.
DAC and DWB benefits are based on the earnings of the parent or spouse rather than the recipient.
Call Our Experienced Gainesville SSDI Lawyers for Help Today
Even minor mistakes or omissions can result in a denied claim for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Set yourself up for success by contacting the experienced Gainesville Social Security Disability lawyers at Farah & Farah.
We’re here to help you prepare a compelling claim, navigate procedural challenges, and advocate for the best possible outcome in your application for SSDI benefits.
Put our experience and financial resources to work for you. Call our law office in Gainesville, Florida, at (352) 505-8093 to set up a free consultation now.
Why Choose Farah & Farah To Help With Your Claim For Social Security Disability in Gainesville, FL
How Our Gainesville Disability Lawyers Can Help You and Your Family
What Is Social Security Disability?
How Do I Qualify for SSDI Benefits?
How Do I Apply for Social Security Disability in Florida?
What Happens If My Claim for SSDI Benefits Is Denied?
Social Security Disability FAQs
Call Our Experienced Gainesville SSDI Lawyers for Help Today
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YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
