Tampa Social Security Disability Attorney
Workers’ compensation benefits can help you get medical care after a work injury and provide you with financial help during your disability. If your workplace injury or illness prevents you from working permanently, you may also be entitled to Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. SSD benefits are based on your entire work history and the amount of money you have put into the system. These benefits may logically belong to you, but they are notoriously difficult to obtain; most people who file for social security disability are turned down. The good news is that even if your initial application is denied, you may still be ultimately successful in obtaining benefits if you stick with it and have the help of an experienced SSD attorney working on your behalf. Tampa Social Security Disability attorney Jason Kobal has dedicated his career to helping injured workers get all of the benefits they are entitled to after an on-the-job injury, including social security disability when appropriate.
Who is eligible for Social Security Disability?
You must be able to meet several tests in order to be considered eligible for social security disability benefits. These tests evaluate your disability as well as your earnings history. Regarding the disability, you must be able to prove the following, supported by medical documentation:
- You are disabled from working on a permanent basis
- Your earning capacity has been significantly and permanently diminished
- You were permanently injured or suffered an injury that is expected to last for one year or longer or eventually cause death
In addition to medical certification, you’ll also be evaluated by a disability agent who looks at whether you could return to your old job or perform other kinds of work.
The other aspect of SSD eligibility is your earnings history. The Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at whether you have worked for five of the past ten years if you were 31 years old or older when the disability happened (the “recent work” test). They will also look at whether you have worked long enough and accumulated enough credits to qualify for Social Security (the “duration of work” test).
What if my application is denied?
As many as two-thirds or more of the applications for SSD are turned down because there was some error in the application or the SSA is not convinced the applicant qualifies. Many people simply give up at this point, but there are many other steps you can take to fight or appeal a denial of benefits. These include:
- Request for Reconsideration
- Administrative Law Judge Hearing
- Appeals Council Review
- U.S. District Court
- U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Let Tampa social security disability attorney Jason Kobal help you with your claim. We’ll work with you when submitting your application in hopes of getting it accepted the first time around. In the event your claim is denied, we’ll go to work securing your benefits in the timeliest manner possible. Mishandling a request for reconsideration can actually make your case worse, so be sure and contact a skilled and experienced social security disability attorney with a record of success in cases like yours.
Call Kobal Law in Tampa for Help with Social Security Disability Benefits
Kobal Law is your comprehensive source for legal help with all aspects of workplace disability, including social security disability benefits. After an on-the-job injury or illness in Florida, call Kobal Law in Tampa at 813-873-2440. Your consultation is free, and you’ll only pay a fee if our Tampa Social Security Disability attorneys are successful in obtaining SSD benefits for you.
