Are you disabled and need help making ends meet? The Social Security Administration runs several programs for disabled people, including:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides benefits to disabled people who have paid to the Social Security system through taxes. To be eligible, you must have worked long enough at a job where you paid into the system.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that provides financial aid to disabled people who meet low-income guidelines. Unlike SSDI there is no work history requirement and you do not have to have paid into the system.
At Harris & Helwig, partner Suzanne Harris has more than 30 years experience with the Social Security Administration. She and her staff of four paralegals will guide you through the complex process and help you get the benefits you deserve.
In most cases, we charge a fee only if the client is approved for disability benefits. If you are not approved, no fee would be due. Our initial consultations are free.
Do You Have a Qualifying Disability?
Under the Social Security system, if you are an adult, there are two ways to prove you cannot work. The first way is to show that you have a problem that is listed in one of the 14 major categories. These categories are called "the listings" and include:
- Musculoskeletal disorders including, back or hip problems, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cardiovascular issues, including chronic heart failure, hypertension or other issues that affect the proper functioning of the heart or circulatory system
- Hearing, speech or sight impairments, including blindness or deafness
- Digestive system problems, including liver disease, hepatitis, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Genitourinary issues, including disorders related to the kidney
- Respiratory issues, including lung disorders and debilitating asthma
- Hematological disorders, includes all blood issues like anemia and sickle cell disease
- Skin disorders, including chronic rashes, severe eczema and skin cancer
- Endocrine disorders, including diabetes and thyroid conditions
- Neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) and brain injuries caused by serious accidents
- Mental disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, panic attacks and schizophrenia
- Impairments that affect multiple body systems such as Downs Syndrome
- Malignant diseases such as cancer
- Immune system disorders, including autoimmune disorders such as lupus, HIV and AIDS, and others
Even if you do not have a problem found in the listings, or if your listed condition is not as severe as the requirements found in the listings, you may still qualify for disability benefits through an evaluation of your residual functional capacity (RFC). RFC is a determination of what you can still do despite your impairments. If your abilities are so limited by your impairments that you cannot perform work activity, then you may still qualify for disability benefits. The laws governing children's SSI benefits are different from the above requirements for adults.
Some of the hardest conditions to prove are those involving pain, fatigue and mental disorders. If you cannot work due to a medical issue or disability, don't hesitate to call Harris & Helwig at 866-360-4476.
Have you been denied Social Security Benefits?
Many people who are eligible for SSI or SSDI are initially denied. Most of our clients seek legal representation when they have been denied at the first level by Social Security. Our attorneys will guide you through the application and appeals process..
Contact our Social Security Disability Lawyers
We offer free initial consultations in all Social Security cases. To contact one of our skilled Lakeland Social Security law attorneys, call 866-360-4476 or send us an e-mail. Our Florida offices are handicapped-accessible and provide free parking. Don't forget to bring your papers! Se habla español.
