(FLORIDA) – A disabled client in his thirties was told by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that they were eligible for retroactive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, post-dated to the time their disability was documented. For an individual already on fixed income from the SSA, the prospect of additional resources was promising, particularly since their parents – and caretakers – were also supported by Social Security benefits.
The condition? That the client provides prior evidence of their disability to an Administrative Law Judge at the SSA.
Our client and their family knew this would be a difficult task. Their attorney team at Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) did, as well. In fact, the family had approached FRLS, a non-profit law firm providing free legal services to eligible clients in thirteen counties and farmworkers statewide, after an unsuccessful initial hearing with the SSA’s Office of Hearings Operations (OHO).
FRLS advised our client and their family to source medical and school records from before the client’s disability was documented years prior. These documents would demonstrate the client’s history of disability and qualify them for SSDI benefits. After authorization from the client, FRLS tracked down past medical and school records, working alongside the client’s family.
Back at the OHO, the effort paid off. The judge issued a Fully Favorable decision, granting the client Title II SSDI benefits and Medicare under the disabled adult child status. This decision secured the client a monthly benefit check more than their original SSI amount. Outcomes like these reflect FRLS’s dedication to increasing access to legal aid and working to create opportunities for vulnerable individuals and their families.
Public Benefits Legal Services at FRLS
Among many areas of practice, from Housing Assistance to Family Law to Disaster Recovery, FRLS provides free Public Benefits legal services to qualifying candidates. Our attorneys advocate for basic living necessities for senior citizens on fixed incomes, people with disabilities, veterans experiencing homelessness, children, and other vulnerable communities.
FRLS can help clients who have had their benefits denied, terminated, or are dealing with overpayment issues, including:
- Unemployment benefits
- SNAP food stamps
- Medicaid assistance
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Are you being denied benefits even though you meet eligibility requirements? Speak with our attorney team today at 1-888-582-3410.
About Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS):