As people age and go about their daily life, they put a lot of wear and tear on their bodies. This can lead to debilitating injuries or conditions which keep them from being able to work and earn an income.
Luckily, there is a safety net in the form of the Social Security Disability program. This system is a socially supported system which a person pays into their entire life and if they become unable to work, they can start receiving payments from it. But, what are the steps to applying for these benefits? Is it easy or is it hard to do?
Applying for benefits is easy enough. There are forms you can access from the Social Security Administration’s website. But, finding the forms and applying may be the only easy part. Including the right information on your application in order to have your best shot at being approved is a different story.
According to Maria, a disability attorney in Brevard County, FL., there are some facts you should be aware of before you apply:
1. You only get one appeal should your application be denied.
2. Just because a Doctor has declared you disabled this may not be enough to prove your case.
3. You case should be treated like any legal case, where you will want to present the most compelling information and in an orderly format.
4. Hiring a personal injury attorney improves your chances of getting approved by about 50%.
5. Hiring a disability attorney to handle your appeal also improves your chances by about 50%.
“Although the State of Florida does not offer its own disability payment program, everyone is entitled to apply for federal benefits. This is because you have been paying into that system from your very first paycheck”, said Maria. “This is why they are called “entitlements”. You are entitled to the benefits should you become disabled.”
Disability law is its own separate branch of law practice and is different from all others, including personal injury law. You want to hire someone who is proficient at practicing disability cases for your best shot at being approved. You wouldn’t hire a divorce attorney to work on your auto accident case, would you? The same rule of thumb goes for disability law.
In Florida, because of the large population of older people, has one of the highest social security recipient rates in the country. Over 5,000,000 people collect benefits. That is around 1 in 5 residents. There are only so many people who can be approved, which is why it is important to have your case in order before it is submitted. This is not the time to “learn on the job”.
Ask people in your friend group if they have a relative who has used the services of an attorney for their case and if they are happy. It’s a good idea to get referrals from someone your trust. You can also use search engines and law databases to find the highest rated attorney in your area. Being prepared before your case is filed is something you will come to appreciate after the fact.