Published on: November 4, 2015
Learning how to apply for disability in Florida is a complicated sea of paperwork and interviews. However, in the end, an approval will make all the hard work worthwhile. The Social Security Administration allows those who cannot work because of a mental or physical disability to receive a monthly check to help them pay their bills and other expenses. There is a stipulation that in order to be considered disabled and receive benefits, you must have a condition that is expected to last at least a year or result in death.
How to Apply:
There are several ways in which you can apply for disability. You can apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov and then click on disability and it will walk you through the steps to apply. You can also call the SSA’s toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. This number will provide you with an appointment at your local office where you can file a disability application. These appointments normally last about 60 minutes. This appointment is just the start of a disability application. If you don't want to go it alone, call Disability Experts of Florida for assistance in the application process.
It can take several months to process a disability claim, so the sooner that you file, the sooner you will get the results of your claims process. You will need:
- Social security card
- Birth certificate
- The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all of your doctors, caseworkers, medical centers and clinics that have treated you for your condition
- The dates of each visit
- The names and dosages of all medications that you currently take
- All of your lab and test results relating to your condition
- A list of the places you have worked and what kind of work you performed
- A copy of your most current W-2 form.
If you don't feel like gathering all of this information yourself, call Disability Experts of Florida today for assistance.
In addition to the application, there is other paperwork that you will need to complete, such as how your medical condition prevents you from working. The other paperwork includes consent forms for all the medical professionals who are working or have worked with you on your condition. This allows the Social Security office to be able to talk with and obtain records through your health care professionals.
The office then reviews all of the information they have to determine whether or not you are considered disabled. The most important part of this process is talking to your health care team. A rep from SSA will inquire as to what you have been diagnosed with, when you were first diagnosed with the condition, how the condition limits your ability to work and perform daily activities, all the medical tests you have had, and what treatment you have been given.
Contact Us:
If this looks more and more like a mountain of paperwork to you, contact the advocates at the office of the Disability Experts of Florida. They can assist you in filling out all the paperwork needed, obtain all of your medical records and they can even represent you should you need to have a hearing before an administrative judge.
