Social Security Disability

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for Social Security Disability Filing for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD or SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits can be a long and complicated process. In order to improve your chances of having a favorable outcome, here are some common mistakes to avoid in the application process: Failing …

The Biggest Mistakes Social Security Disability Claimants MakeRead More

The Appeals Council is the last level of administrative appeal after an unfavorable decision from an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). Sometimes, for whatever reason, the evidence just did not make it to the ALJ at the hearing in your claim. It is still possible to submit new evidence to the Appeals Council. However, the following …

Submitting New Evidence To The Appeals CouncilRead More

Submit the Evidence As Early in the Appeal Process as Possible According to 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.935 and 416.1435, claimants should submit additional evidence for their claim with the Request for Hearing, or within ten (10) days of submitting the request. Therefore, you should review your file and submit evidence as early in the hearing process as possible. …

Submitting Evidence To Social SecurityRead More

At least one of the disabling impairments must satisfy the one-year duration requirement to qualify for Social Security disability. Thus, if a claimant has two severe impairments that last less than one year each, but in combination last more than one year total, such individual may not be eligible for benefits. An example should clarify this a bit …

Special Issues Concerning The Social Security Disability One Year RuleRead More

Currently Scheduled Speaking Engagements Mr. Ortiz is not currently scheduled for any future speaking engagements. If you would like to contact Mr. Ortiz about giving a presentation to your group or organization, please contact the Ortiz Law Firm at 850-898-9904. Previous Speaking Engagements “Handling A Social Security Disability Case”, March 28, 2011, for the National …

Speaking EngagementsRead More

NAMI Pensacola Speaking Engagement I just want to give a big thanks to NAMI Pensacola, our local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, for allowing me to speak to your group last night. I spoke about the basics of Social Security Disability Benefits and how mental illnesses may qualify for SSDI and/or SSI benefits. …

Speaking Engagement With NAMI Pensacola, The National Alliance On Mental IllnessRead More

Social Security Services Online There are many Social Security related tasks that you can accomplish from the comfort of your own home! Click Online Services to visit the Social Security Administration’s page for online services. The list of options includes: Get your Benefit Verification Letter Get your Social Security Statement Apply for Retirement, Disability, or Spouse Benefits Change …

Social Security Online: Things You Can Do On The WebRead More

I have seen other attorneys post that a criminal background will not keep a claimant from receiving disability benefits as long as the claimant does not have an outstanding felony warrant. This is mostly correct. However, there is one additional “felony impairment” rule: a claimant cannot receive Title II Disability Insurance benefits if the claimant’s …

Social Security Disability With A Criminal Or Felony RecordRead More

Here is a detailed infographic on the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Program.  It details: Who receives benefits from the SSDI program; How much the SSDI program costs; How the SSDI program works; Processing times for claims; Chances of winning SSDI claims; and Possible approaches to changing the SSDI program.

Social Security Disability Insurance Program InfographicRead More

Our office’s phones are going to explode next week. We are going to get dozens – perhaps hundreds – of calls from claimants wanting to know how the shutdown will affect the processing of their disability claims. Former clients will call to see how the Great Government Shutdown of 2013 will affect their benefit payments. …

Social Security Disability Claims During Government Shutdown 2013Read More