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Applying for Disability Benefits in Florida Guide

Last updated: November 19, 2023

There is no doubt that applying for disability benefits in Florida can be a challenging decision to make for people with disabilities. There can be a lot of difficulty for you when you realize that you need Social Security Disability (SSDI) because you have worked hard all of your life. The good news is that there is no reason to feel bad about your decision. A quarter of working-age adults will face this dilemma before they retire, and around 25% of them will have to make this decision themselves. A healthy and enjoyable life is not always guaranteed, and many people develop debilitating health conditions without fault. 

The SSA And SSDI

The Social Security Administration was created in the 1930s to provide health care for people facing health challenges like those you are dealing with now. This program has evolved over the years according to the needs of its beneficiaries. It has added additional retirement benefits for people and services to better provide these individuals with a reasonable quality of life without placing an undue financial burden on them or their families.

You should know the following things if you have been disabled recently in Florida. It is important to know whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and how you can apply for them if you do. There were over 7.8 million manual and online applications for social security benefits received by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2021, but only 0.8 million applications were approved. If you want to have your claim approved, you need to know how applications are evaluated and how the process works. 

Things You Should Know Before Applying For Disability

Are You Working?

For government disability insurance benefits, the Social Security Administration has a very strict definition of what constitutes work. If you are capable of working or can perform "substantial gainful activity," regardless of your disability, or if you are likely to be able to return to work within a year, it has an adverse impact on your eligibility for impairment income benefits. An activity that generates a monthly income over $1220 is defined as substantial gainful activity (SGA).

Is Your Condition Severe?

If you wish your disability claims to be considered, your condition must impact your ability to carry out basic work-related activities. Generally speaking, it is defined as anything that prevents you from participating in gainful activities as a combination of impairments. Mental illness, as well as physical impairments, can affect an individual. The medical documents proving your condition could include medical records, dates of treatment, reports of medical tests, names of medications, and workers' compensation claims. A doctor's verdict alone is not enough to qualify for disability compensation benefits. Relevant original documents can be the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Is Your Condition Listed as a Disabling Condition With the SSA?

An advocate can help you with your additional benefits if you have trouble determining your position with respect to the SSA's eligibility requirements. The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists disabling conditions under larger umbrella headings referred to as "major body systems." According to the SSA, "For each major body system, we maintain a list of medical conditions that automatically qualify as disabilities. If your condition does not appear on the list, we have to determine whether it is also as severe as one that appears on the list."

Can You Do Your Previous Job?

The SSA must determine whether your condition interferes with your ability to do the work you were doing before, even if it is not at the same severity level as a medical condition on the list. A claim that does not meet these requirements will be denied. To prove that you cannot work at your old job at the SSA, you may need someone with experience.

Can You Do Any Other Work?

When you can no longer work as you did in the past, the SSA will assess your adaptability to other work. You will need to provide them with your medical history, proof of age, education, and any past work experience you may have as well as any transferrable skills you possess. Your claim will be approved if you cannot adjust to other work. If you can adjust to other work, your claim may be denied.

Start Making Informed Decisions 

It can be difficult to understand FL SSDI disability requirements and to apply. Social Security's legal definition of disability is evolving daily, and understanding how to present your claim will take years of experience.

You can save yourself from inconveniences by contacting Disability Experts of Florida. The application process is free of cost and quick, and they will assist you in determining whether you may qualify for supplemental benefits and with the appeals process if needed. Disability applications in Florida don't have to be complicated. With their expertise and experience, they put your needs first!

Wanna know what to do when you don't have enough work credits for disability benefits? Check out our link to learn more.

Applying for social security disability benefits can be an overwhelming process. If you want SSDI benefits, check out our article about partial disability benefits. To learn more, visit DisabilityHelp.org today!

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Victor Traylor
An expert to the field of Social Justice, Victor formed Disability Help to connect ideas and expertise from the US with rising global cultural leadership, building networks, fostering collaboration, long-term results, mutual benefit, and more extensive international perception.
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