Lake Mary SSD Eligibility Attorney
Providing your eligibility for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits can be complicated, especially when the federal government’s definition of a disability is narrow. An experienced Lake Mary SSD eligibility attorney is here to help with your claim.
SSD Eligibility Requirements in Lake Mary
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has very specific requirements for SSD eligibility in Florida and across the country. To be eligible for SSD benefits, the following must be true:
- You must have worked for a long enough period of time, and recently enough, in a job in which you paid Social Security tax (usually a person must have worked for approximately 10 years and relatively recently, but an SSD lawyer can help you to determine your eligibility based on your date last insured (DLI)); and
- You must have a disability that meets the SSA’s definition of a disability.
It is critical to understand that the SSA’s definition of a disability may not be the same definition that your employer, or even your doctor, currently uses. In order to be considered disabled and eligible for SSD benefits according to the SSA, you must be unable to work for at least one year or more due to your injury or illness, or you must have a condition that is likely to result in your death. To be eligible for SSD benefits, your illness or injury must be so disabling that you cannot return to work in any capacity.
Your SSD Claim Can Be Denied in Lake Mary Even If You Are Eligible for Benefits
You should know that a majority of SSD benefits applications are denied the first time around, especially when an applicant has not worked with an experienced Lake Mary SSD eligibility attorney. To be sure, even if you are eligible for benefits, a mistake in your application, or the failure to submit a specific type of documentation, can result in a denied claim. You should not lose hope. A lawyer can assess your case to determine why it was denied and can discuss the possibility of an appeal.
If you submit an application before you begin working with an experienced disability benefits lawyer in Florida and your claim is denied, our firm can help you to file an appeal. In some cases, you might have made a relatively minor error in your application that can be corrected on appeal. For example, you might have submitted medical records from a chiropractor, which is a type of healthcare provider that is not classified as an “acceptable medical source” by the SSA. Or, for example, you might have gotten your “date last insured” incorrect in your application. These errors can be remedied, and you can still receive the SSD benefits you deserve.
Seek Advice from Our Lake Mary SSD Eligibility Attorneys Today
Understanding eligibility for SSD benefits can be difficult and frustrating when you have never gone through this process before, but one of our experienced and compassionate Lake Mary SSD eligibility lawyers is here to help. We have years of experience serving clients in Central Florida with SSD applications, and we can help you to determine your eligibility before you file. Contact the Law Offices of Shea A. Fugate, P.A. today to learn more about your SSD benefits eligibility in Florida.