Social Security

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Phone: 727-347-7733
Toll Free: 800-341-8338

Fax: 727-327-6125

Location:
4455 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33713

Resources

Social Security Disability Tips & FAQs

5 Tipes to Help You Qualify for SSDI

Social Security Disability Attorneys

Advocating For Your Rights

Based in Saint Petersburg, Jorgensen Gibbons, P.A. has decades of experience standing up for the rights of people with disabilities in Florida.

With offices in Saint Petersburg, Tampa and Sarasota, our accomplished lawyers represent disability clients throughout Florida.

Attorney E. Lynn Gibbons has been practicing Social Security Disability law for 18 years. Learn some of her SSD tips here.

Social Security Disability insurance benefits are not a handout. This is an insurance program to which working Floridians pay into with each paycheck. If you have become disabled prior to retiring from the workforce, and you have paid into the program, you have earned the right to receive SSDI benefits. We will help you prove this to the Social Security Administration as quickly as possible.

If you have not worked long enough to qualify for SSDI, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income. We can help you determine which program is for you and how to obtain benefits.

Get A Free SSD Case Review Today

For more information about how we can help you receive your rightful SSDI or SSI benefits, call our office to schedule a free consultation: 727-347-7733 or 800-341-8338.

All consultations are confidential and there is no fee unless we obtain benefits for you.

Personal Service, Experienced Guidance

Many of our SSD clients are already frustrated with the process when they walk into our office or call us. Either they have been denied benefits, or they feel lost and overwhelmed by the initial claims process.

Working with one of our talented Social Security Disability attorneys, E. Lynn Gibbons, in our Saint Petersburg office is very different than working with the faceless bureaucracy of the SSA or a non-attorney representative.

We work with our clients one-on-one, providing personalized and dedicated legal representation for the same fee as a non-attorney representative. Why would you choose a non-attorney representative when you could have Ms. Gibbons, an attorney who has been personally handling Social Security Disability claims for over 18 years, for the same fee?

Ways To Qualify For SSDI

In a perfect world, those who are disabled would be able to quickly access the disability benefits and medical care they need. The Social Security Disability Insurance system was designed for just that purpose, but unfortunately many deserving people are denied benefits today.

In order to get your rightful benefits, it is wise to work with an experienced and reputable SSDI attorney. Based in Saint Petersburg, Jorgensen Gibbons, P.A., provides legal counsel to those seeking SSDI benefits throughout Florida.

We do not charge clients for our Social Security Disability services unless we win benefits for them. When fees do apply, we charge the same percentage as non-attorney representatives even though we are a licensed law firm with board-certified lawyers.

FIVE TIPS TO HELP YOU QUALIFY FOR SSDI

Social Security Disability Tips & FAQ

What is required to qualify for Social Security Benefits?

In order to be considered disabled, a claimant must have a physical and/or emotional condition that renders them incapable of performing substantial gainful activity for an expected period of at least one year or is expected to end in death. Factors that are considered in deciding whether or not you qualify include a claimant's age, education, and past work history. Many hardworking people feel uncomfortable about applying for SSD benefits because they have the misconception that they are asking the government for a, "hand-out." That is not true! Most of my social security clients have been paying in to the social security system since they got their first part-time job as a teenager. An application for social security disability benefits is simply a request that the Administration apply the rules to their case and make a determination as to whether or not they are permitted to take their social security benefits early because of a disability which prevents them from working. It's certainly not a hand-out!

When is the best time for me to apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Claimants should apply as soon as you and your doctors agree that you should not be working due to a condition that is expected to last for at least one year. Oftentimes, people have to wait and see what happens with their medical conditions and continue working but should apply as soon as they stop working and it is apparent that the condition is not going away.

Are there backdated Social Security Disability benefits?

Yes. Backdated benefits are awarded for up to one year before you applied as long as you were not working and you can prove that you were disabled for that time period.

I applied for Social Security Disability Benefits and was denied. How long do I have to appeal the initial decision?

Normally, you are given 60 days to appeal any unfavorable decision on your disability claim. More often than not, claims are denied after the initial application stage. If the initial application is denied, as soon as our firm receives that letter of denial we send out the appeal form that same day in order to avoid any delays with the appeal process.

How long does the initial decision usually take?

The timeframe to receive an initial decision usually varies pretty widely from case to case based on the amount of medical evidence and the type of conditions you are claiming. However, 6 months is not an uncommon wait time for the SSA to make an initial decision on your application.

When can I hire someone to represent me and how will my representative be paid?

You can hire a representative at any time during the process. The representative will be paid out of any backdated benefits usually at 25% of that amount. The representatives fee is normally a maximum of $6,000, but no fee is due unless we are successful in your claim. The fee is usually deducted automatically by the SSA and delivered directly to our firm. One thing that most social security claimants DO NOT KNOW before they hire a representative is that non-attorney representatives charge the same fee as an attorney who has been practicing social security law for over 18 years, like E. Lynn Gibbons. It doesn't make sense that so many people would put their family's livelihood in the hands of a non-attorney representative for the same cost as having a seasoned, skilled lawyer advocating their claim.