Miami Social Security Attorney or Advocate

If you are a resident of Miami (Miami-Dade County) and you can no longer work due to a disability, you may be thinking about applying for Social Security Disability benefits. A Social Security Disability attorney or advocate can help you through the complicated application process to get you the financial assistance you may need.

The Miami Hearing Office currently has 7,798 pending cases and a processing time of 434 days. While it can seem discouraging to wait over a year for disability benefits, many Miami residents find Social Security Disability payments to be worth the wait. As of December 2011, Miami-Dade County was home to 45,165 Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries and 145,629 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries.

For more information regarding the two Social Security Disability benefit programs, click here.

Remember, you can initiate the application process by filling out an electronic application online or by scheduling an appointment at your local Social Security office to fill out an application in person. The Social Security office in your area is located at the following address:

1251 NW 36th Street
Ground Floor
Miami, FL 33142
Telephone: 1-800-772-1213

Consulting with a Miami Social Security Disability Attorney

If you are feeling confused or overwhelmed by the Social Security Disability application process, you should consider contacting an attorney or advocate to help you with your claim. An attorney will be able to offer professional legal advice so that you can be awarded benefits as soon as possible.

Learn more about the benefits of hiring an attorney or advocate here.

A Miami Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Miami-Dade County, Broward County, Monroe County, and Collier County: Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Gladesview, Brownsville, West Little River, Tamiami, Doral, Virginia Gardens, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Fountainbleua, Miramar, Country Club, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Cooper City, The Hammocks, Davie, and Lake Lucerne.

For more information regarding the legal professionals in your area, contact your local bar association at one of the following addresses:

Dade County Bar Association
123 NW First Avenue, Suite 214
Miami, FL 33142

Miami-Dade Justice Association
8004 NW 154 St #561
Miami Lakes, FL 33016

Federal Bar Association (South Florida Chapter)
111 NW 1st Street STE 2810
Miami, FL 33128

Miami Disability Hearings

If your claim is denied during either the initial or reconsideration stage of the application process, you will have to request a hearing at the Miami Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR).

Listed below are the approval rates for the administrative law judges (ALJs) that hear cases in the Miami hearing office.

*Data from http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html

Often an attorney or advocate will be familiar with the each of the judges who hear cases in his or her local office. Your attorney may be able to use this insight to your advantage throughout the appeal process.

Just like the initial application stage, you may be required to wait a long time for your appeal hearing. If you find that you cannot wait—due to financial or medical troubles—you may want to consider requesting a congressional inquiry. This involves calling your local congressperson to explain your situation and ask that he or she intervene with the ODAR on your behalf. Your congressperson has the power to expedite your appeal hearing in extreme cases.

For more on qualifying for disability benefits in Florida, see How To Qualify For Disability In Florida.

Complete the following form to receive a free legal consultation with a Miami Social Security Disability attorney or advocate: