New Port Richey & Dade City Social Security Disability Lawyers

If you are suffering from a physical or mental disability that is keeping you from working, then you could be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits. These federal programs are enabled to help financially assist certain individuals who meet the specific criteria of being (1.) disabled and (2.) have income and assets that place them below a particular threshold.

SSDI has become quite difficult to apply for and Social Security Administration (SSA) has really tightened the reigns on who qualifies for this funding. Due to how complicated the process is, our New Port Richey and Dade City SSDI and SSI Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are here to provide legal assistance to those individuals who qualify file an application and look into what benefits they are eligible to receive.

Do You Qualify for Social Security Benefits in New Port Richey?

To qualify for SSDI, you are required to have earned a certain number of work credits based on your age. As long as your job was covered by Social Security, then you likely received four work credits a year. Through your employment, you paid into the system, which entitles you to receive SSDI benefits as long as you have a qualifying disability.

Benefits for SSDI are paid monthly and all vary based on your average lifetime earnings before you suffered from a disability. As of 2021, average monthly benefits are $1,277. You are provided a yearly Social Security Statement which can help you further understand what the monetary amount of your monthly benefits would be. Keep in mind that any other income you get from other sources will also be factored into how much you receive monthly for SSDI.

What Qualifies Someone as Disabled?

Generally speaking, to qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits, you condition must restrict you from being able to work. Not all conditions will fall under this category, so you will need to check the SSA’s list of impairments to see if your condition qualifies. You can view the listings here.

How Do I Make a Social Security Disability Claim in Dade City or New Port Richey?

To recover SSDI, the first step is to file an application. This can be done over the phone, online, in person at your local Social Security office, or even with an attorney. If your claim is approved, then you can expect to receive your SSDI disability benefits after the mandatory five-month waiting period from your disability onset date (this is the date considered that you could no longer work.)

The SSA actually provides applicants with a Disability Starter Kit that can help prepare you before you start an application or submit it. The kit has common questions you will be asked so that you can gather the necessary information as well as a checklist for how to prepare for you interview. While this is great, our New Port Richey and Dade City SSDI and SSI Attorneys at Whittel & Melton know how complex the SSDI process can be, which is why we are here to help walk you through the process. It is estimated that the average number of accepted SSDI applicants are at 22% for 2021, which means that most initial applicants are denied. Approximately 63% of initial applicants are denied. With that said, we are here to help you make sure your claim is successful the first time around. If you need to file an appeal for a denial, then having us represent you will increase your odds of winning.

We will not charge you any fees up front for our services. We work on contingency, so we only get paid if you are approved for SSDI or SSI benefits.

We Provide Free Disability Case Evaluations in New Port Richey and Dade City

The SSDI and SSI application process is much more complex than just having a doctor sign a form stating that you are disabled. The SSA has a lengthy list of requirements that you must meet, and as we mentioned previously, most initial applicants are denied. This is why we strongly recommend getting on touch with us as soon as possible so that we can go over all the proper documentation needed to support your claim. Call our New Port Richey and Dade City SSDI and SSI Attorneys today at or contact us online to get the help you need for your SSI/SSDI benefits.