Social Security Disability in Tampa, FL
Qualifications to receive SSI and SSDI benefits in Tampa
What if you are severely injured or disabled and you can no longer work? Did you know that the Federal Government offers Social Security Disability Insurance to some Tampa workers who are considered disabled by the Social Security Administration and who are unable to work for at least 12 continuous months due to a severe physical or mental health condition?
How do you know if you qualify for SSDI in Tampa? First you must be determined disabled by the Social Security Administration. Next you must have worked jobs covered by Social Security and paid enough in payroll taxes to be considered “insured” by the Social Security Administration.
If you qualify for Social Security Disability in Tampa, your dependent children and spouse may also, under certain conditions, qualify for SSDI auxiliary benefits. If the SSDI recipient dies, under some conditions their widow or widower may also qualify for benefits.
What if you have not worked outside of the home or you have not paid taxes? Do you still qualify for SSDI in Tampa? Unfortunately, no, you will not qualify for SSDI benefits, but the Federal Government does offer cash assistance through the Supplemental Security Income program to the blind, aged (65 years or older) or disabled whose resources and income are very limited. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claimants may also be eligible for Medicaid, in most states, at the time of their approval.
How a Tampa SSI or SSDI disability attorney can help you get social security benefits
The SSA allows anyone to file his or her own Disability Benefits claim without the aid of a social security attorney. Everyone also have a right to have a Tampa Social Security Disability attorney or advocate represent them in the disability cases. However, if we examine the statistics of past cases we can clearly see that claimants represented by an attorney or advocate have had a much higher success rate than people without any representation. In addition many claimants will find that having an attorney or advocate will help in most aspects of the case from handling the documentation to appeals. They will get a better understanding of the Social Security System and their own claim through an attorney. In light of the above facts people who want file a claim for Social Security Disability should seriously consider the advantages of having an attorney or advocate to represent them in the case.
A social security attorney or SSDI/SSI advocate can help the claimant in a variety of ways including the following. An attorney or advocate experienced in disability claims will be able to recognize what the Social Security Administration will look for in the claimants particular case that will prove the claimants disability. As such he or she will be able to help the claimant, by evaluating the case according SSA regulations before hand, by assisting in the proper filling of forms, by getting additional medical evidence and by preparing the claimant for giving testimony at the hearing.
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Since the Tampa Social Security Disability attorney or advocate will be familiar with system he or she will also be able help the claimant file the relevant documents, from initial claim to appeals in a orderly professional manner, acceptable to the bureaucracy concerned. The attorney or advocate will be able to monitor the progress of the case and supplement it with any additional documents and evidence as needed promptly, The attorney or advocate will also be able to fully argue the case in front of the Administrative Law Judge if there is an second appeal and protect the interest of the claimant by objecting or pointing out to the judge any improper evidence or procedures that might adversely effect the claim.Finally an attorney or advocate will be able to ensure that Social Security Administration will properly calculate the benefits when the claim is approved.
Fees
In most cases the claimant will only need to pay the attorney or advocate a contingent fee if he or she wins and the Social Security Administration approves the claim. Usually when the claim is approved a retroactive check with the amount of benefits for the period when the case was pending will be sent to the claimant. If there was an attorney or advocate representation, Social Security Administration will usually deduct twenty five percent(25%) of retroactive amount or five thousand three hundred dollars ($5,300) whichever is lower, from the retroactive benefits and send it directly to the attorney. In addition the claimant will have to pay out of pocket expenses of the attorney, incurred on behalf of the case, such as photocopy, medical report, and doctors, charges. This would usually be a comparatively small amount.
If you live in Tampa or any of the other cities in the area including Tampa Bay, Citrus Park, Brandon, East Lake, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Mango, or Temple Terrace, you can contact the SSA in any of the following ways:
- Applying for social security by visiting the Social Security Administration website at www.socialsecurity.gov..
- File for benefits by phone, call the SSA Office at 1-800-772-1213 to see about qualifying for social security.
- Apply for disability in person, visit the nearest Tampa Social Security Administration Regional Office. To find the nearest Tampa regional office, visit the Social Security Administration site at www.socialsecurity.gov. Go to the Social Security Office locator page for Tampa and enter you zip code. This page will provide the address of the nearest Social Security Administration Office in your area.
The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) files all reconsiderations, schedules hearings and handles all Appeal Council reviews. The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) for the Atlanta Region services the 8 southern states of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. The address and phone number for the Atlanta ODAR Regional Office is listed below.
Social Security Administration,
Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR),
Atlanta Federal Center, Suite 20T10,
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Telephone: (404) 562-1182
Fax: (404) 562-1152
Each request for a Social Security Disability hearing is processed by one of the Social Security Administration’s 35 hearing offices and one satellite office in the Atlanta region. The address and phone number for the Tampa ODAR Hearing Office is listed below.
Social Security Administration,
Office of Disability Adjudication and Review,
Fountain Square II, Suite 200,
4925 Independence Parkway,
Tampa, Florida 33634
Telephone: (813) 883- 7300
Fax: (813) 883- 7355
The Tampa ODAR Hearing Office services the following Social Security Administration Field Offices in Florida: Carrolwood, Dade City, Lakeland, Sebring, Tampa, Valrico, and Winter Haven.
Completed Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income applications are sent to the appropriate Division of Disability Determination Services Office for a disability review and disability determination. It may take up to 90 days for the DDS office to review the SSI or SSDI claim and notify the Florida claimant of their decision. The DDS offices which service Florida are listed below.
Department of Health,
Division of Disability Determinations,
P.O. Box 15550,
Tampa, FL 33687
800-223-1172
Florida Social Security Administration Field Offices perform a full range of services for claimants. Claimants may apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income, replace their Social Security cards, and update to their benefits information. The Social Security Offices for the state of Florida are listed below.
Social Security Administration,
3415 E Frontage Rd,
Tampa, FL 33607-7009
Telephone: 1-800-772-1213
Social Security Administration,
4010 Gunn Highway,
Suite 100,
Tampa, FL 33618
Telephone: 1-800-772-1213