Fort Lauderdale, located in Broward County, is home to many qualified Social Security Disability lawyers who are available to help individuals navigate the Social Security Disability application process. If you are no longer able to work due to a medical disability or illness, you should consider contacting a lawyer to help you get the benefits you need.
Right now, the Fort Lauderdale Hearing Office has a total of 11,062 pending cases and a wait time of 400 days. Although waiting over a year to receive Social Security Disability benefits can be frustrating, many disability recipients find SSI and SSDI to be worth the wait. In December 2011, 35,775 Fort Lauderdale residents received SSDI benefits and 39,670 received SSI benefits.
If you are unfamiliar with the two disability programs, you can learn more here.
To begin the application process, you must fill out the initial application. You can do so in person at your local SSA office or you can complete an electronic application online. If you prefer to apply in person, it is important to remember that you must call ahead of time to schedule an appointment with a Social Security Disability representative. You can reach your local office at the following address:
Suite 100
3201 W. Commercial Blvd,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Telephone: 1-800-772-1213
Consulting with a Fort Lauderdale Social Security Disability Attorney
If you are not familiar with the Social Security Disability Application process, it may be in your best interest to consult an experienced disability attorney or advocate. A professional will be able to offer professional guidance and advice to make sure that you make no costly errors on your initial application. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of consulting with an attorney or advocate click here.
A Ft. Lauderdale disability attorney will also handle cases in Broward County, Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade County, Hendry County, and Collier County: Oakland Park, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Roosevelt Gardens, Washington Park, Broadview Park, Sunrise, Tamarac, Pompano Beach, Margate, Coconut Beach, Miramar, Weston, Cooper City, Miami, Deerfield Beach, and Boca Raton.
Speak with a representative of your local bar association to learn more about the attorneys and advocates in your area:
Broward County Bar Association
1051 S E 3rd Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Federal Bar Association (Broward County Chapter)
4179 Davie Road, STE 101
Davie, FL 33314
North Broward Bar Association
2021 E Commercial Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Fort Lauderdale Disability Hearings
If your initial application and reconsideration are denied and you wish to continue pursuing benefits, you must request a hearing to be held at the Fort Lauderdale Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). Following is a list of the approval rates for the administrative law judges (ALJs) who hear cases in the Fort Lauderdale office:
| ALJ | Approval Rate |
| Alonso, Sylvia H. | 22.26% |
| Anderson, Thurman | 56.16% |
| Andres, James | 49.46% |
| Brennan, Mary | 39.66% |
| Cartledge, James C. | 0.51% |
| Cyrus, Sarah | 42.86% |
| D'Alessio, Rossana L. | 42.86% |
| Evans, M.D. | 26.44% |
| Firestone, Scott C. | 2.50% |
| Gill, Robert | 56.56% |
| Hansen, Dennis | 0.46% |
| Hunn, Wendy | 48.98% |
| Jarvis, Valencia | 24.02% |
| Labrousse, Lissette | 31.51% |
| Mannes, Michael | 0.29% |
| Ortiz-Valero, Richard J. | 37.02% |
| Pasvantis, Denise | 33.61% |
| Perez-Gonzalez, Jose | 67.13% |
| Richardson, Mary E. | 0.00% |
| Sprague, Jonathan | 55.79% |
| Spurlin, Robert | 42.06% |
| Thompson, Michelle | 0.00% |
| Turner, Brian | 61.43% |
| Wolfe, Rebecca | 0.55% |
*Data from http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html
It is common for a Fort Lauderdale disability attorney or advocate to be familiar with the administrative law judges who work in the Fort Lauderdale hearing office. They may be able to use this information to your advantage when preparing your case.
Unfortunately, scheduling an appeal hearing may take a very long time. If you cannot wait for your hearing due to financial or medical distress, you may request a congressional inquiry. To do so, you have to call your local congressperson to explain why you need your hearing to be scheduled sooner. He or she has the power to intervene with the ODAR on your behalf to have your disability hearing expedited.
Complete the following form to receive a free legal evaluation from a Fort Lauderdale attorney or advocate:
