St. Petersburg is located in the mid-west section of Florida and it is the largest city in Florida aside from the cities that serve as county seats. The area is a popular destination for United States and foreign travelers, with the tourism and hospitality industries playing leading roles in the area’s economic well-being. The area offers great weather year-round and it is a popular place for those who enjoy water sports such as jet skiing and sailing.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has reported that more than 375,000 people in the State of Florida receive Social Security Disability benefits from the SSA. If an individual hopes to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits in St. Petersburg, that individual must be able to prove that they suffer from a complete disability that is expected to last twelve months or more. This disability must completely prevent you from performing any type of work activity and, if possible, provide enough medical evidence to prove that the disabling condition meets the criteria of one of the conditions that have been published in the SSA’s Blue Book. If you do not fill out the disability forms properly or do not provide the SSA with enough medical evidence to prove your disability case, it will be unlikely that your claim will be approved by the SSA.
If you are able to prove your disability and the SSA approves your claim for Social Security Disability benefits, you can expect to start receiving benefits after you have met the SSA’s six-month waiting period. If you have already been disabled for six months or more once you receive your approval, you will begin receiving benefits right away and may be entitled to back pay from the SSA.
Apply for St. Petersburg Social Security Disability Benefits
If you live in the St. Petersburg area and plan on applying for disability benefits through the SSA, you should consider discussing your case with a qualified St. Petersburg Social Security Disability attorney prior to filing your claim with the SSA. While many disability applicants do wait for a denial of their initial claim before consulting with an attorney, doing so may only delay the receipt of your benefits.
The services of a St. Petersburg Social Security Disability lawyer can increase your chances of being approved for disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process. An approval during the initial application stage can help you avoid the need for a disability appeal, allowing you to receive benefits months or even years earlier than you would have.
If your Social Security Disability application is denied by the SSA, then you must endure the disability appeal process if you hope to obtain benefits at some point in the future. In the State of Florida, a disability appeal usually involves a request for reconsideration and a disability hearing before an administrative law judge. It is important to understand that the SSA denies more than 80 percent of the reconsideration requests that it receives. This is why a disability hearing is so important to the success of your disability appeal.
The hearing stage of the appeal process is when you have the best chance of overturning the SSA’s decision to deny your disability payments. It is important to remember, however, that proper legal representation during this hearing can mean the difference between a successful hearing outcome and further denial of your disability claim.
If you need to obtain forms or bring papers to your local Social Security office, the office for St. Petersburg residents is located at 30 DR MLK ST S in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg Social Security Disability Resources
When filing a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, you must provide the SSA with up-to-date medical records if you hope to be approved for disability benefits. If you do not have medical insurance and you need medical care in order to obtain objective medical evidence, the following low-cost clinics may be able to help:
Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center
1344 22nd Street South
Saint Petersburg, FL 33712
727-821-6701
Community Health Centers - Johnie Ruth Clarke Center
1344 22nd Street S
St. Petersburg FL 33712
727-821-6701
Mobile Medical Unit
647 1st Ave. North
St. Petersburg FL 33701
727-582-7781
PTEC Health Center
901 34th St S
St. Petersburg FL 33711
727-893-2500
St. Petersburg Free Clinic
863 3rd Avenue N
St. Petersburg FL 33701
727-327-0333
Your St. Petersburg Disability Claim
It is possible for you to represent yourself during the Social Security Disability application and appeal process. It is important to understand, however, that doing so may decrease your chances of obtaining the Social Security Disability benefits you need. In fact, statistics have shown that an applicant’s chances of being approved for Social Security Disability benefits are significantly increased with help from a qualified St. Petersburg Social Security attorney.
Click here for a free disability evaluation from a qualified attorney or advocate in your area.
