Winter Haven Social Security Disability Lawyers Helping Eligible Clients Obtain Social Security Disability Benefits

The Social Security Administration has extensive rules and requirements to determine who qualifies for benefits and how they should apply. The language and processes can be quite complex and overwhelming for many people, making it a wise choice to work with an SSDI attorney who can help you with every step required to obtain your benefits.

Who Is Eligible to Receive Social Security Disability Benefits in Florida?

To receive SSDI benefits, you need to have worked and paid into Social Security and earned enough credits, in addition to having a disability or illness that prevents you from doing the type of work you were doing before, and also prevents you from doing any other type of work. You also need to demonstrate your medical condition has lasted or will likely last for at least one year or result in death.

All of this is done during your application process, which typically involves gathering paperwork from all medical professionals to determine the extent of your disability and how it prevents you from working. This is an important step, as most SSDI applications end up being denied due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence.

What Is the 20/40 Rule for Qualifying to Receive SSDI Benefits in Florida?

The SSA requires applicants to have worked and paid into the Social Security system for a sufficient amount of time. This means working one-quarter of coverage for every calendar year between the time you turned 21 up until the date when you became disabled. The maximum number of quarters of coverage required is 40. That number can be reduced if you become disabled before age 24 or age 31.

The 20/40 rule applies only to those who became disabled after age 31. It states that you must have 20 quarters of coverage in the past 40 calendar quarters. The good news is that most individuals who have performed any type of significant work in the past five to ten years will likely have satisfied this requirement, and may be able to apply for benefits.

When Is Someone Considered Disabled by the Social Security Administration?

The SSA uses a series of questions and requirements to determine whether someone is disabled or not. First, they will want to know if you are currently working, or if your income is below a certain level. Next, they will look into whether your condition is severe enough to interfere with your abilities to perform basic work duties. They will then look at the SSA list of disabling conditions — a list containing a series of medical conditions that automatically classify someone as disabled. If your condition is not listed, the SSA will decide if your condition is equivalent to one of the listed conditions or not.

After that, the SSA may look into how your current disability prevents you from doing the type of work you have been doing up to the point when you became disabled. If you are unable to perform the work you have been doing before, the SSA may take a look at your overall profile including age, skills, education, and medical conditions and will then determine whether you are capable of adjusting to other types of work. If you cannot adapt to other types of work, you will then be considered disabled by the SSA.

How Can an Attorney Help Me Get SSDI Benefits?

As you may know, understanding which steps to take to receive SSDI benefits can be overwhelming and require endless stacks of papers, forms, and medical reports. Most claims get denied the first time around due to insufficient or incorrect paperwork and medical evidence. By working with a Social Security Disability attorney such as the ones at Jiles Law, P.A., you can rest assured you will be leveraging our knowledge of SSA rules and procedures to help you navigate the SSA system with ease and have a better chance of receiving your benefits sooner. Each case is different and outcomes vary, so if you need to know whether you can file for SSDI, call us at 863-875-6900 to discuss your case.