How Do I Make An Appointment With The Lakeland Florida Office
Even in situations where your local office is open normal hours, it is always better to schedule an appointment to help cut down on your wait time. You can call the Lakeland, Florida office at 877-604-9387 to schedule your appointment. When you make the call, they can also let you know what documents you need to bring to your appointment.
How Does Social Security Define Disability
Social Security regulations define disability as the inability to perform any substantial gainful activity because of a diagnosable physical or mental condition. That condition must either be expected to result in death or last for at least 12 consecutive months.
The inability to perform substantial gainful employment means that you cant do your past job or any other type of work that exists in substantial numbers in the national economy. The Social Security Administration maintains a list of qualifying medical conditions that may result in disability. If a person has none of those listed conditions, the applicant usually must undergo a residual functional capacity assessment to determine if he or she can perform any type of work.
Appealing A Denied Ssd Claim
If your application for SSD benefits is denied, you could appeal the decision. The appeals process is complicated, with four levels. At each stage, you only have 60 days from the date of an adverse decision to make an appeal. If you file your appeal late, it could be dismissed, and the denial would be final.
First, you may request reconsideration of your application by another examiner not involved in the initial decision. During reconsideration, you may also submit additional supporting information and corrections to your application.
If the denial of your application is upheld on reconsideration, the next step involves requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge . An appeal hearing usually lasts between 30 minutes and an hour. During the hearing, the ALJ and/or your attorney will ask you questions about your condition, your work, and your limitations. A vocational expert will also give testimony about what type of work someone with your condition could or could not perform. Your attorney, if you have one, may cross-examine this expert. At the end of the hearing, the judge may ask your attorney to give a closing statement. You typically will not receive a decision at the hearing. Instead, the judge will usually render a decision in one to three months.
After you exhaust the SSAs administrative review process, the last step you can take to appeal an adverse decision involves going to the federal courts.
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Social Security Office Polk County Florida Near Me
Are you looking for the nearest Social Security Administration Office in Polk County, Florida?
Below are SSA office locations near Polk County, Florida. Find the phone number, address, office hours, and other information about the local Polk County, Florida SSA office.
If you have visited a local Social Security office in Polk County, Florida, please take a few moments to review the office so that other visitors know what to expect when visiting!
Local Polk County, Florida Social Security office provides the following services:
- Apply for Social Security Disability SSDI OR, Supplemental Security Income Polk County, Florida
- Apply for Medicare in Polk County, Florida
- Help with Medicare prescription drugs in Polk County, Florida
- Check on disability application status
- Appeal a disability decision
- Obtain a replacement Medicare card
Cities In Polk County Florida
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Retirement From Drop Or The Pension Plan After July 1 2010
All Polk County School District employees with Deferred Retirement Option program termination dates or regular retirement dates on or after July 1, 2010 must remain after their retirement date before they are eligible to reapply for rehire. If you are rehired after the sixth month, you must suspend your monthly retirement benefit during the 7th 12th months following your retirement date by completing Form FR-23. If you reapply and are rehired after the mandatory 6-month waiting period you will be required to certify that your reemployment does not violate these restrictions. After one full year has elapsed from your retirement effective date, you may be reemployed by any FRS employer and receive both salary and FRS Pension Plan retirement benefits simultaneously, without restriction. Please contact the FRS Bureau of Retirement Calculations at 1-888-738-2252 for more information regarding your employment eligibility after retirement.
Retirees rehired within one year from their retirement date should make a copy of the FR-23 Suspension of Retirement Benefits form to keep, and send the original completed form via District Courier Service or mail to:
Risk Management & Insurance Department
How do I reapply for employment?
If you meet the eligibility requirements to reapply for rehire after retirement, please complete a new online employment application.
I am retired from Polk County Public Schools and would like to volunteer for the district. What steps do I take?
Can A Social Security Disability Attorney Help Me File A Claim
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Disabled workers can file their own claim or a Social Security disability attorney can help you file a claim. After you find a Social Security disability attorney, your lawyer can advise you of your rights and options, help you compile the medical records necessary to support your claim, and file the claim with the appropriate Social Security Administration office near Polk County, Oregon. If your claim is denied, your experienced attorney can handle the appeal to make sure you get the benefits you deserve.
Need an attorney in Polk County, Oregon?
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FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory is the largest online directory of attorneys. Browse more than one million listings, covering everything from criminal defense to personal injury to estate planning.
Detailed law firm profiles have information like the firm’s area of law, office location, office hours, and payment options. Attorney profiles include the biography, education and training, and client recommendations of an attorney to help you decide who to hire.
Use the contact form on the profiles to connect with a Polk County, Oregon attorney for legal advice.
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Bureau Of Medical Disability Information Services
This bureau is responsible for the administrative oversight and management of all Information Technology functions to include the Local Area Network, Wide Area Network, servers, workstations, printers, iSeries, Helpdesk, Legacy System Application, application development, web publishing, systems security, access control, and all other overall system related tasks in the support of the processing of disability cases.
Apply For Lakeland Social Security Disability Benefits
Applying for Lakeland Social Security Disability benefits is a complex process. It can also take a number of months to complete. The Social Security Administration approves about 27 percent of the initial claims seen in the Atlanta regional office. The remaining claims those initially denied benefits must proceed through a second review and about 9 percent of SSDI applicants are approved for benefits during the reconsideration.
For those SSD applicants who are denied a second time, the next step is to file an appeal, which sends the case before an administrative law judge to determine eligibility. Having the assistance of a Lakeland Social Security Disability attorney throughout this process increases your chances of receiving SSDI benefits.
The majority of Lakeland disability claims which are denied are missing the appropriate medical records and other documentation. A Lakeland disability lawyer can review your case file and ensure you receive the appropriate medical tests and other procedures to sufficiently document your disability according to SSA guidelines and standards.
A Lakeland Social Security lawyer can increase your chances of receiving SSDI benefits during the initial or second review stages of the application process. Your Lakeland disability attorney can also argue your case at the appeals hearing if you must go before an administrative law judge.
Below is the Social Security office through which Lakeland disability benefit claims are processed:
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What Is The Difference Between Ssdi And Ssi
The primary difference between SSDI and SSI is the type of people for which each program is intended.
SSDI provides benefits for people with disabling conditions who have a sufficient work history that shows theyve paid into the Social Security program. Individuals may be eligible for SSDI when they experience a qualifying disability and have accumulated sufficient work credits and recent work history. Past work qualifies if the person paid Social Security taxes on the wages or income they earned. The minimum required work credits and recent work history vary based on the applicants age. Younger applicants, who have had less time to work, have shorter work requirements.
On the other hand, financial need rather than work history dictates eligibility for SSI. SSI is intended for individuals with few or no financial resources. A blind or disabled individual or person 65 or older may be granted SSI benefits if their monthly income is below the federal benefit rate and they have less than $2,000 in qualifying assets. Blind and disabled applicants may be entitled to exclude certain portions of their income from the eligibility calculation.
How Our Polk County Disability Lawyers Can Help You
Pursuing a disability claim comes with many complexities and headaches. Let an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer in Polk County, FL, take the pressure off you by:
- Explaining your options and eligibility for each disability benefit program
- Helping you collect the information and records you need to complete your application, including work history records, financial records, and medical records
- Putting together your application for benefits and helping you avoid common mistakes
- Explaining why your initial application was denied and advising you of what information or evidence you may need to bolster your application
- Guiding you through the appeals process, if necessary, to fight for the full benefits you need
If you need advice on applying for SSD benefits or appealing a denied claim, contact us online or call the Disability Law Firm today for a free case review. You can speak to a compassionate Polk County SSD lawyer about your legal options for obtaining the disability benefits you deserve.
Practice Areas
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An Office Visit Is Worth Your Time
Many people find that visiting the SSA office is the best way to get the help they need, and this is especially true of people who are unfamiliar with computers or the internet. The Claims Specialists are trained to answer questions about the process, and are there to help you with the most common reasons people visit the office: Social Security Disability applications, retirement benefits, and Social Security cards.
Its worth the time to go to the field office, but be sure to make an appointment, come prepared, ask questions, and find out what your next move is.
About The Lakeland Social Security Office
The Lakeland Social Security Office, located in Lakeland, FL, is one of the Social Security Administration’s 1,230 field offices. These field offices administer Social Security programs, including the Supplemental Security Insurance program. Social Security issues monthly retirement benefits to Lakeland senior citizens and their survivors. The program also provides disability payments to disabled workers and their dependents. The SSI program supports disabled adults and children with limited income and resources.
You may contact the Social Security Office for questions about:
- Lakeland Social Security benefits
- Applying for a Social Security number
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Applying for Social Security in Lakeland
- Eligibility and enrollment
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Lakeland Social Security Disability
Lakeland, Florida is located almost exactly half way between the cities of Tampa and Orlando in Polk County. The city reported a population of about 95,000 in the last census and depends heavily on the agricultural, mining, tourism, transportation, insurance and finance industries.
The Social Security Administrations Region 4 District Office in Atlanta, GA serves Lakeland and sees about 60,122 new SSD claims annually for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income . The same office also distributes benefits payments to around 563,000 individuals.
SSDI benefits are designed to provide income for individuals whove been unable to hold a job for an extended period resulting from a long-term or permanent disability. In addition to having a disabling condition, you must also have sufficient work credits built up over the last decade in order to qualify for SSDI under the Social Security Administrations guidelines. If you do not meet the requirements for SSDI benefits, you may still qualify for SSI.
Social Security Office In Lakeland
- Address:550 Commerce Dr 33813, Lakeland, Florida
- GPS:27.9589411,-81.96413559999996
- Monday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday Closed
Office will be closed on the federal holidays.
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Get Directions
This page includes contact information about the Social Security Office in Lakeland, Florida like street address and directions, phone number and TTY, office opening hours. Here you can also find the official web address of the Social Security Administration .
The Social Security Office in Lakeland, Florida address is: 550 Commerce Dr 33813, Lakeland, Florida.
An appointment is not required, but if you contact the office and schedule, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to apply.
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How Can I Check My Social Security Benefits
The easiest way to check your benefits is by logging into your My Social Security account online through www.SSA.gov. Once you get logged into your account, you can view benefit statements, benefit estimates, earnings history, and the status of any pending applications. That site should be your go-to for any information related to your Social Security account.
How Long Does It Take To Receive Ssd Benefits
After you file your application for SSD benefits, you can expect the SSA to take anywhere from three to five months to render a decision. It can take much longer if you need to appeal the denial of your claim.
Once your claim is approved, youll begin receiving SSD benefits in the sixth month following the onset of your disability. However, individuals with certain qualifying disabling conditions may be entitled to begin receiving benefits immediately upon their applications approval.
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Bring A List Of Questions
It can be intimidating to sit down with a Claims Specialist when you have limited time and are unfamiliar with the SSA application process. For this reason, everyone should bring a list of questions.
Give some thought to what you dont understand about the disability or retirement process, and write it down. There is no such thing as a dumb question!
Your goal is to make sure everything gets answered. Some examples of good questions to ask if you are applying for disability:
- Should I apply for SSI or SSDI? Whats the difference?
- Where do I apply?
- How long will it take for me to find out the decision?
- What medical information will I need?
- What information do I need to show my work history?
- What are work credits?
- What documents will I need to prove my income?
- What documents will I need to prove my resources?
When Should You Apply For Disability Benefits
If you experience a disabling injury or medical condition that has left you unable to work, you might think about applying for disability benefits immediately, especially if you have no other sources of income. However, keep in mind that a disability will only qualify you for financial assistance if it lasts or is expected to last at least 12 consecutive months or is expected to result in death.
While, you may consider waiting to apply for disability benefits until after your injury or condition has stabilized, since the disability process can take more than two years, it is important to speak to an expert disability lawyer who is familiar with how Social Security evaluates claims with conditions like yours.
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How Do I Apply For A Temporary Social Security Card
Requesting a replacement card online is the fastest way to get your new card however, if you need a temporary Social Security card, then you will need to head down to your local SSA office. While they will not technically issue a temporary card, they will give you a receipt showing that your new card has been requested. This receipt can act as a sort of temporary card in some cases.
Building Successful Futures For Iowans With Disabilities
The Iowa DDS assists Iowans with disabilities through our consistent effort to process disability determinations with accuracy, speed and care. Our DDS staff have been recognized by the the Social Security Administration Regional Commissioner for clearing more than 41,000 claims yearly, while maintaining an impressive 95.7% accuracy rate!We also determine Military Casualty/Wounded Warrior cases. Wounded Warrior cases are determined by specially-trained staff with DDS, who are dedicated to processing these cases in the most accurate and timely manner possible. These expedited determinations help United States military service members in Iowa receive Social Security disability benefits if eligible.Due to the effort of DDS staff, more Iowans with disabilities who are eligible for Social Security benefits have access to these benefits today.
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