Hiring a Disability Advocate in Florida: What to Know

If you live in Florida and you struggle with a disability that has caused you to be unable to work, you may be experiencing significant financial stress. It can definitely be overwhelming to watch your stack of bills continue to grow when you have no way of earning income to pay them. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be interested in pursuing disability benefits from the Social Security Administration or through other sources. If this is the case, you may wonder how you’ll navigate the process alone. The good news is you don’t have to. A disability advocate may be able to help.

What Benefits Will You Pursue?

Depending on your particular circumstances and the nature of your disability, you may be able to seek a variety of benefits. Some of those benefits may include:

• Short-term disability benefits
• Long-term disability benefits
• Veterans’ disability benefits
• Workers’ compensation benefits
• Social Security disability benefits
• And more.

Each type of benefit has its own unique set of requirements, and this is one of many reasons that consulting with an advocate is always advised.

Although many types of benefits may be available, Social Security disability benefits are among the most commonly pursued. There are two types of disability benefits offered by the Social Security Administration, which include:

• Social Security Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Security Income

Depending on your circumstances, you can seek one or both types of benefits. Let’s take a closer look at how an advocate may be able to help you do that.

How Can an Advocate Help?

The primary reason to hire an attorney in any legal matter is simple. You don’t know what you don’t know. The law can be complex, and without an attorney who knows and understands the process to guide you, you may miss important deadlines, fail to provide sufficient evidence, and generally miss out on the opportunity to fully assert your rights. Sometimes, when mistakes of this nature are made, they can be very difficult to undo. Hiring an attorney at the beginning of the process can help to avoid these pitfalls.

In addition to providing guidance for handling the claims process as a whole, some of the many other benefits of hiring a disability advocate might include:

• Assistance with gathering and organizing records: A significant part of any disability benefits claim is gathering and presenting the appropriate evidence. Sometimes, though, when you are overwhelmed with a disability, this can be hard to do. An experienced advocate can help you determine which records will best support your case and organize them in a way that presents the strongest argument on your behalf.
• Increased chances of approval: Although approval of any claim is not guaranteed, statistically, the likelihood of having a claim approved is increased for those who have legal representation. The right applicant will be able to help streamline the claims process, avoid pitfalls, and pursue the best strategies on your behalf.
• Assistance with the appeals process: Not all claims are denied on the first attempt – although many are. In some states, the denial rate exceeds 60% for first-time claims. If your claim is denied, you may decide to pursue an appeal. Having the right advocate on your side can make the difference between a smooth appeals process and a stressful one.
• Representation at hearings: If you do decide to pursue an appeal, depending on your situation, you may end up having a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Like any legal matter, these hearings may seem intimidating and confusing if you aren’t familiar with the law. Having an advocate who can represent you at the hearing and guide you through the process can make an important difference.

These are only a few of the many benefits of hiring an advocate when you pursue your claim. While hiring an advocate is important, it’s also important to be certain that you are hiring the right one – one who knows and understands the law and can provide the expert guidance you need and deserve. At Disability Experts, we’re here for you.

Call Disability Experts Today

At Disability Experts, we know that when you aren’t familiar with the law, it can seem complicated and confusing, to say the least. At times, it may even feel overwhelming. And the last thing you need when you are struggling with a disability is to worry about how you’ll pursue the disability benefits you need. You should know that you don’t have to worry and wonder alone. Instead, you can turn to us, knowing that when you do, you’re choosing a team that knows and understands the law, and that will always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to helping you soon.

Sources

• Social Security Disability Benefit Overview: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10029.pdf
• Benefits of Hiring a Disability Advocate: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/should-i-hire-social-security-disability-advocate.html