Florida Social Security Disability Legal Questions

You can apply online at www.ssa.gov.  You may be able to see a Social Security doctor.  Please remember that Social Security benefits are based on function:  in addition to whatever disease or disability may exist, you must be unable to do a job somewhere for the next 12 months or have a condition expected to result in death.... Read More

Quyalifications include: Be at least age 65; Be blind or disabled; Reside in one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands, except for a child of military parent(s) assigned to permanent duty anywhere outside the United States or certain students temporarily abroad  Call our office and we will pre-qualify you for SSI.  Attorney Bocchio 855-254-7841... Read More

You can file for Social Security Disability Insurance (or, if you have not paid into the system long enough and are not eligible based on your parents' work record, Supplemental Security Income) online at www.ssa.gov.  Whether you are eligible is a decision for the Social Security Administration.  Inability to sit in a car for more than 15 minutes, degenerative disc disease and non acute pain are not in themselves determinative.  Many libraries have books which can guide you through the application process, notably Nolo's Guide to Social Security Benefits.... Read More

I would suggest that you go to www.ssa.gov and review the criteria for acceptance. You can apply for SSD benefits on that website. Some of the l criteria used to consider an application is: 1. You must have enough work credits which means that you must have worked at least five out of the last 10 years. 2. Your medical condition(s) must be severe enough that you can no longer work and it must be projected to last a year or longer. If you are accepted, SSD benefits do not begin until you have been out of work a total of six months. 3. You need medical records from your doctors to show that your condition(s)/symptoms  prevent you from working. 4. The SSA will consider your age, work history/transferable skills, whether your daily activities are limited, your symptoms, etc. There is a check list on the website that lists all of the information you will need. Good luck!  ... Read More

There are two ways that lawyers or other representatives can be paid for representing a person claiming Social Security disability (SSD) benefits.  The first is what is called the fee agreement process whereby you agree with your lawyer that the fee will be 25% of past due SSD benefits up to a maximum fee of $6000.  The Social Security Administration will withdraw such amount from your past due benefits if you win and pay it directly to your lawyer.  If you do not recover benefits, you do not have to pay your lawyer.  The alternative method is that you sign an agreement to pay your lawyer a certain amount to represent you.  After your case is over, the lawyer adds up his time spent and sends a petition for the fee based upon that to the Social Security Administration for approval.... Read More

No attorney can give you much specific advice as to whether you would meet the definitions of disability based upon the basic information given but it never hurts for you to apply for Social Security disability (SSD) insurance benefits.  If you do not qualify for SSD benefits, you always have the option of taking your old-age benefits early.... Read More

I can only assume you are not represented.  Calling the receptionist is not going to speed it up, and will not help.  A decision will be made on your "on the record" request at some point.  Each office handles this differently around the country.  Sometimes you receive a letter, but if anything is going to slip through the cracks - it would be that letter saying "you're on the record" request is denied. So back to your question - yes, no doubt in the policy manuals somewhere - they are required to respond.  When and if they will is anybody's guess.   You don't lose your place "in line" if they don't approve the on the record request.  There are some things you can control - and this isn't one of them. My hope is that your answer on this question arrives in the mail as a fully favorable decision.... Read More