Disability Attorney Orlando | Berke Law Firm, P.A.

Orlando Social Security Disability Benefits for Those in Need

Every day, millions of people across the country struggle to meet their needs due to some kind of disability. They struggle with daily demands as well as with family and friends. They endure hardships and barriers that few people can fully understand. Sadly, these people simply cannot function without help. Fortunately, there is a way they can get that help.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is a federal government agency specifically designed and implemented to help those people who need it most. The SSA was established nearly 90 years ago, and now offers various types of assistance for individuals and their families. One of the most common types of assistance is Social Security disability benefits, which includes Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Although the type of assistance may differ, the objective remains the same. The SSA aims to assist people who struggle with normal, healthy living. Many social security beneficiaries are elderly, disabled, or poor. Others are injured and unable to perform their job or routine tasks the way they once did. Across the country, the SSA provides the social safety net on which these people rely.

However, not all people in need ultimately qualify for social security assistance. In fact, many individuals who apply for these social security benefits struggle to get approved. The application and approval process for social security can be long and difficult. If you are considering applying for benefits, you may need help.

Some of the disabilities that qualify for disability benefits in Orlando include:

Hiring A Social Security Disability Lawyer in Orlando

The social security disability lawyers in Orlando can help in a number of ways. First, they can assist you with the application process. Since the SSA currently offers two programs geared to disabled individuals, knowing which program to choose can be a complicated process.

When applying for social security disability, an applicant must show that the disability is a total disability. The SSA will investigate whether you are suffering from short term disability or permanent disability. Social Security only administers payments to people with a medical condition that is severe and lasting. The condition must be expected to last at least 12 continuous months, or result in death.

You will not receive disability benefits if you have a partial disability or a short-term disability. So, before you go looking online for Social Security lawyers near you in Orlando, Florida, make sure you understand your disability. If you still believe you qualify for benefits, then after you find a professional that you trust, it’s time to apply to the right program for you.

Essential Information About SSDI Benefits in Orlando

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for individuals who are disabled and mostly unable to work. This program delivers monthly benefits based on your previous work history. You must have worked both recently and frequently enough to meet the SSA’s requirements.

The SSA calculates your work history based on “work credits.”

If you have barely worked, you have barely paid into social security. This means you could be denied SSDI benefits.
Most people must have 40 work credits, with at least half of them obtained in the last decade before becoming disabled. Generally, the younger the applicant, the fewer work the credits required.
Applicants can receive up to four credits per year. In 2022, every $1,510 earned constitutes one work credit. Search online for “Social Security Administration” to obtain more information about these requirements.

Other Things to Consider About SSI in Orlando

While SSDI is for people who have worked, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not require a work history. SSI delivers monthly payments to recipients of limited means. In other words, applicants must be able to prove low income and reduced resources.

The SSA considers “income” the money you receive from your wages, benefits, and pensions. Any food and shelter you receive for free is also considered income for these purposes. Each state has different income limits. In terms of “resources,” the SSA considers all your assets, including real estate, cash, stocks and bonds.

An individual applying for Supplemental Security Income must only have resources totaling $2,000 or less. A couple can have as much as $3,000 in resources. In some cases, you may own things that are not considered resources.

An experienced social security lawyer can help you determine whether things you own qualify as “resources” when dealing with Social Security administrators.

In addition, if you are applying to either SSDI or SSI based on disability, you must prove the extent of that disability. Your disabling condition(s) must prevent you from engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). SGA is important to consider because it sets a cut-off for monthly earnings. If you are able to work and exceed a certain monthly income, you are said to be engaging in SGA. If you are capable of engaging in SGA, you may not be approved for benefits.

There are many ways social security administrators will evaluate your capacity to work. You may have to argue that your disability is sufficiently disabling. In some cases, your medical condition may not be listed in Social Security’s “blue book,” which is the SSA’s list of impairments used to evaluate an applicant’s disability.

Even If You’ve Been Denied Benefits – We Can Assist

If you applied for SSDI or SSI benefits and were denied, you need legal assistance. Our highly competent Social Security Disability experts understand the process. We understand applications and we understand appeals.

There are four levels of appeals for applicants who were rejected:

Reconsideration of Application
Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
Social Security Appeals Council
Federal Court Review

If you have been denied social security benefits in Orlando, your first step should be to contact disability lawyers in Orlando. There are many lawyers that specialize in this type of matter and they can help you find out what legal options are available to you. Contact us today.