Jacksonville Social Security Attorney or Advocate

If you reside in Jacksonville (Duval County) and can no longer work due to a medical condition or disability, you have the option of applying for Social Security Disability benefits. A qualified attorney or advocate can help you navigate the application process from start to finish and can get you the financial assistance you may need.

Currently, the Jacksonville Hearing Office has 9,187 pending disability cases and a wait time of 384 days. Although it can be discouraging to wait over a year to receive a decision on your disability claim, many Jacksonville residents find Social Security Benefits to be worth the wait. In December 2011, there were 25,765 Duval County residents receiving SSDI and 25,554 Duval County residents receiving SSI.

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

You can get started on the application process by filling out an application online or by scheduling an appointment at your local Social Security office to fill out an application in person. Your local Social Security Office can be reached at the following address:

1685 Dunn Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32218-4735
Telephone: (904) 751-2169

Consulting with a Jacksonville Social Security Disability Attorney

If you are confused or overwhelmed by the Social Security Disability Application process, you are not alone. A Jacksonville disability attorney or advocate is available to assist you with your claim. He or she will be able to offer legal advice so that you can receive benefits as soon as possible. If you are interested in learning about the benefits of hiring an attorney, click here.

A Jacksonville Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Duval County, St. John's County, Baker County, Putnam County, Nassau County, and Clay County: Orange Park, Fruit Cove, Lakeside, Middleburg, Asbury Lake, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Nassau Village, Callahan, MacClenny, Lake City, and Live Oak.

To learn about the qualified legal professionals in Jacksonville, contact one of the local bar associations listed below:

Federal Bar Association (Jacksonville Chapter)
14 East Bay St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Jacksonville Bar Association
841 Prudential Dr. Suite 1320,
Jacksonville, FL 32207
 

Jacksonville Beaches Bar Association
320 1st Street N. STE 613
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Jacksonville Disability Hearings

If a claimant’s application is denied during either the initial or reconsideration stage of the application process, he or she will have to request a hearing at the Jacksonville Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) if they wish to continue their pursuit for disability benefits. See below for the approval rates of the administrative law judges (ALJs) that hear cases in the Jacksonville hearing office.

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

Attorneys are often familiar with the judges who hear cases in their local office. Your attorney may be able to use this information to your advantage throughout the appeal process.

As with the initial application stage, you may be required to wait quite a while for your appeal hearing to be scheduled. If you find that you can no longer wait—due to financial or medical distress—you may want to request a congressional inquiry. To do so, you must call your local congressperson to explain your situation and ask that he or she intervene with the ODAR on your behalf. In extreme circumstances, your congressperson has the power to expedite your appeal hearing. See below for your congressman’s contact information:

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

Fill out the following form to receive a free legal evaluation with a Jacksonville Social Security Disability lawyer: