Applying for social security disability in Florida can be a lengthy, complicated process. The first step is the initial application. This can be filed independently online or over the phone or you can hire a social security disability representative. Once completed, your application is reviewed to determine your eligibility for benefits. If your application is denied, you will receive an explanation of why your application was denied. You can choose to challenge/appeal the denial. You only have 60 days from the date you receive notice of the denial to file the appeal. If this reconsideration is also denied, you can appeal the decision again within 60 days of receiving the denial of the reconsideration. If you appeal the second denial, you are requesting a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge. At the hearing, the judge will ask questions of you and a vocational expert.  It is critical that you have representation when it comes to winning your case.

In February 2024, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) released the 2023 statistics for social security allowances and denials. Initial claims for disability were denied 61% of the time.  At reconsideration, that number jumps to a denial rate of 85%.  Finally, the average allowance (approval) percentage for administrative law judge hearings was only 45% in 2023.  For a comparison, in 2023, The Disability Law Firm, P.A. had a win rate of 75% percent in front of Administrative Law Judges. That means hiring us as your social security disability representative drastically increases your chances of getting your application approved.  Along with an increased approval rate, attorney Robert Alston and his staff provides assistance with the application, updates on your application status, communicates with SSA on your behalf, and saves you precious time and frustrations. Call today for your free case evaluation.

For more information about the social security application process, please visit https://www.ssa.gov/prepare

For more information from NOSSCR on the 2023 statistics, visit https://nosscr.org/article/2023-waterfall-charts/