lakeland Social Security Law Attorney
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 in to the Social Security system through
taxes. To be eligible, you must have worked long enough at jobs where you paid
into the system. - Supplemental Security Income(SSI) is a need-based program that
provides financial aid to disabled people who meet low-income and asset guidelines.
Unlike SSDI there is no work history requirement and you do not have to pay into
the system.
Our paralegal, Antoinette "Toni" Blanton, is now a non-attorney disability advocate certified to represent claimants at Social Security disability hearings. Toni has worked with our firm since the year 2013 assisting our social security disability clients with initial applications, appeals, medical record updates and reviews. Toni has experience working with social security disability clients since the year 2000. She is an asset to our firm with her ability to communicate with compassion, understanding of a client's significant limits based on their physical or mental impairment, and assist our clients every step during their social security disability process.
We charge a fee only if you are approved for disability benefits. If you are not approved, no fee would be due. Our initial consultations are free of charge.
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. Th 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:
For the complete listings please visit www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/adultlistings.htm
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 preform 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, dont hesitate to call Harris & Helwig P.A. at 888-288-8078.
- 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 bowl 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 disorder such as lupus, HIV and AIDS, and others
For the complete listings please visit www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/adultlistings.htm
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 preform 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, dont hesitate to call Harris & Helwig P.A. at 888-288-8078.
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. However, even if you have not yet applied for disability benefits our office can help you file your initial application.
Contact our social security disability lawyers
We offer free initial consultations in all Social Security cases. To contact our skilled Social Security attorney, call locally at 863-648-2958, or toll free at 888-288-8078, or send us an email info@harrisandhelwig.com. Harris and Helwig has continuously served clients from its offices at Christina Cove Office Park, 6700 South Florida Avenue, Suite 31, in Lakeland, since 1995. We are just north of Shepard Road intersection with South Florida Avenue. Our offices are handicapped-accessible and provide free parking.