Building Your Medical Evidence:
identifying what your records are missing and working with your providers to fill those gaps before the application goes in.
Social Security Disability Advocates
in Florida
Florida Disability Advocates: SSDI and SSI Help for Florida Residents
Clauson Disability serves Florida residents nationwide, working exclusively on Social Security disability claims from the first application through an Administrative Law Judge hearing. If a health condition now makes it impossible to keep working after years on the job, here is how the process works and how a disability advocate can help.
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is based on your work history and payroll taxes, while SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is need-based with strict income and asset limits. If you are unsure which one fits your situation, see the difference between SSDI and SSI.
- $0 upfront fees
- No fees unless you win
- Serving clients in all 50 states, including Arizona
- Thousands of disability claimants served
Get your free case review:
(888) 251-5551You can also read more about the Social Security disability help we provide, including SSDI and SSI claims.
How the Disability Process Works in Florida
In Florida, your claim moves through the same federal stages as everywhere else: initial application, reconsideration, and a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Florida claimants go through the same federal process as claimants anywhere in the country. The stages do not change by state. What varies is which state agency reviews the medical decision and how long each stage takes locally.
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1
Initial Application
The application is filed with SSA and includes detailed medical, work, and functional information. In Florida, the medical portion of the initial decision is reviewed by Florida's Disability Determination Services (DDS), the state agency that makes the medical determination on SSA's behalf, using the same federal disability standard applied nationwide.
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2
Reconsideration
If the initial application is denied, you can request reconsideration within 60 days. A different examiner at Florida DDS reviews the case, along with any new medical evidence submitted since the initial decision.
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3
ALJ Hearing
If reconsideration is denied, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge within 60 days. The hearing is held through SSA's Office of Hearings Operations. This is a federal proceeding, not a state one, and it is where a substantial share of previously denied claims areultimately approved. When your case reaches this stage, one of our attorneys represents you at the hearing.
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4
The Federal Court Stage (Informational Only)
If the ALJ denies the claim and the Appeals Council upholds that denial, the final option is federal court review. This stage requires a licensed attorney and is included here for completeness. If a Florida claim reaches this point, we can help connect you with an attorney referral for federal court.
How Do You Earn Work Credits?
"You earn Social Security work credits by working and paying Social Security taxes, and in 2026 one credit takes $1,890 in covered earnings, up to four credits a year.
SSDI eligibility depends on having enough work credits, which is why work history matters for that program but not for SSI. For 2026, $1,890 in earnings equals one credit, and $7,560 earns the maximum of four credits for the year. These are federal figures and apply the same way in Florida as everywhere else.
Earning four credits in a year does not by itself mean you qualify for SSDI. Insured status depends on how many credits you have earned over your working life and how recently you worked, so the number of credits you need can differ based on your age when a disability begins. SSI does not require work credits at all, since it is based on financial need rather than work history. "
Anyia – Representative
What are Florida's disability
approval rates?
In Florida, roughly 42.0% of initial claims are approved, and the approval rate rises to about 58.8% at the ALJ hearing level, based on SSA data for FY2026 through July 2026. Approval rates follow a clear pattern: the initial level is the hardest to clear, reconsideration approves only a small share, and the hearing level is where the odds improve the most. That pattern holds nationally and in Florida, which is why a denial early on does not mean a claim is over.
Stage
Florida Approval Rate
National Average
| Stage | Florida Approval Rate | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Application | 42.0% | 36.2% | |
| Reconsideration | 15.9% | 15.2% | |
| ALJ Hearing | 58.8% | 57.7% |
SSA administrative data, FY2026 through July 2026. Initial and reconsideration rates reflect favorable medical determinations. Hearing rates reflect favorable ALJ decisions, excluding dismissals. State figures reflect processing agencies or hearing-office locations.
How do I apply for disability in Florida?
You can apply for disability in Florida online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a Florida SSA field office.
However you apply, SSA takes your application and forwards the medical portion to Florida DDS for the disability determination. Applying online is usually the fastest way to start, and having your medical records, work history, and treating-provider information ready before you begin helps avoid gaps that slow a claim down. If you are helping a family member apply, you can start the application on their behalf with their permission.
The process typically takes three to four months for an initial decision. You can do it yourself, without a trained advocate, if you choose to.
Florida Hearing Offices:
Locations, Wait Times, and Approval Rates
Florida has eight SSA hearing offices serving different regions across the state. These offices schedule and hold ALJ hearings for claimants across the state. The Fort Lauderdale hearing office is physically located in nearby Hollywood. Which office is assigned to a claim depends on where the claimant lives, not which city they searched from.
Hearing Office
Avg. Wait Time
Avg. Approval Rate
Address
| Hearing Office | Avg. Wait Time | Avg. Approval Rate | Address | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | 8 months | 50.9% | 300 S. Park Rd., Suite 200, Hollywood, FL 33021-8353 | ||
| Fort Myers | 8 months | 66.1% | 4220 Executive Circle, Suite 25, Fort Myers, FL 33916 | ||
| Jacksonville | 8 months | 51.3% | 8880 Freedom Crossing Trail, Building 400, Suite 400, Jacksonville, FL 32256 | ||
| Miami | 8 Months | 62.6% | 333 S. Miami Ave., One Riverview Square, 8th Floor, Miami, FL 33130 | ||
| Orlando | 8 Months | 60.2% | 3505 Lake Lynda Dr., Glenridge Building, Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32817-8338 | ||
| St. Petersburg | 8 Months | 63.5% | 830 Central Ave., Suite 200, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | ||
| Tallahassee | 8 Months | 67.8% | 1961 Quail Grove Ln., 2nd Floor, Tallahassee, FL 32311 | ||
| Tampa | 8 Months | 58.7% | 4925 Independence Pkwy., Fountain Square II, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33634 |
Florida Hearing Office Addresses
Here are the current addresses and phone numbers for Florida's SSA hearing offices.
Fort Lauderdale:
300 S. Park Rd., Suite 200, Hollywood, FL 33021-8353
Phone: 888-436-2637
Fort Myers:
4220 Executive Circle, Suite 25, Fort Myers, FL 33916
Phone: 888-462-1109
Jacksonville:
8880 Freedom Crossing Trail, Building 400, Suite 400, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 866-931-0124
Miami:
333 S. Miami Ave., One Riverview Square, 8th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Phone: 866-964-5052
Orlando:
3505 Lake Lynda Dr., Glenridge Building, Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32817-8338
Phone: 877-833-2730
St. Petersburg:
830 Central Ave., Suite 200, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: 877-452-4193
Tallahassee:
1961 Quail Grove Ln., 2nd Floor, Tallahassee, FL 32311
Phone: 888-472-5996
Tampa:
4925 Independence Pkwy., Fountain Square II, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33634
Phone: 855-248-0239
No office matches your search.
How Clauson Disability Helps Florida Residents
Clauson Disability serves Florida residents nationwide, with no fees unless you win your case. Clauson Disability is a national advocacy organization focused exclusively on Social Security disability claims. We serve Florida residents nationwide, which means you work with the same experienced team regardless of which Florida city or county you call home. Our advocates and representatives handle the application and appeals, and when your case reaches a hearing, one of our attorneys represents you.
Here is what our team helps with at each stage:
Filing the Application:
making sure it is complete, accurate, and consistent with your medical record.
Responding to a Denial:
filing a timely reconsideration and strengthening the record before the case is reviewed again.
Preparing for the ALJ hearing:
getting you ready for what to expect, obtaining updated medical opinions where relevant, and representing you at the hearing itself, including questioning any vocational or medical experts SSA calls.
Social Security Field Offices in Florida
Field offices are where you file an application in person, submit documents, and handle other Social Security business. They take your application and forward the medical portion to Florida DDS for the disability determination.
SSA field offices statewide.
You do not have to visit a field office to work with us or to apply, since applications can be filed online at ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213.
Durham, North Carolina
Since 2009, Clauson Disability in Durham has focused exclusively on advocating for Social Security Disability claimants. North Carolina is our home market. While we represent clients in all 50 states, our deepest work is in NC. This is where we know the DDS examiners, the four hearing offices, and the ALJs who decide these cases. Our team is continuously credentialed to SSA standards. Learn more about our team.
Ready to Get Disability Help in Florida?
"If a health condition has made it difficult to keep working, our team can review your situation and explain how it fits SSA's evaluation, usually in about 15 to 20 minutes. Florida claimants face the same federal disability process as claimants anywhere else, and the same rules apply. What changes case to case is how complete and clear the medical record is. We serve claimants in all 50 states, including Florida, and there is no cost to find out where you stand.
Based in Durham. Serving all of North Carolina. Start your free case review or call (888) 251-5551. No upfront cost."
Elizabeth – Senior Representative
Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Help in Florida
A Florida disability advocate helps you apply for and pursue SSDI and SSI benefits, from the initial application through your hearing. Our advocates and representatives handle the administrative process, and when your case reaches a hearing, one of our attorneys represents you.
In Florida, about 42.0% of initial claims are approved and roughly 15.9% at reconsideration, rising to approximately 58.8% at the ALJ hearing level, based on SSA data for FY2026 through July 2026. Rates change over time and vary by hearing office.
Timelines vary by stage and hearing office. In Florida, average waits from a hearing request to a hearing held were roughly 8 months for cases closed in July 2026, and that is separate from the earlier application and reconsideration stages. SSA publishes current processing times, which shift over time.
Florida has eight SSA hearing offices serving different regions across the state. SSA assigns your hearing office based on where you live. Addresses and phone numbers for each office are listed above.
Yes. When your Florida claim reaches an ALJ hearing, one of our attorneys represents you at that hearing. Our advocates and representatives handle the application and appeal stages leading up to it.
No. We serve disability claimants in all 50 states, including Florida. You work with the same team no matter where in Florida you live.
You pay nothing upfront, and representatives are paid only if you win. The fee is set by SSA rule at the lesser of 25% of your past-due benefits or $9,200.
No. Many claimants choose a non-attorney representative for the administrative process, which covers the application, reconsideration, and hearing. A licensed attorney is required only if a claim reaches federal court. At Clauson Disability, your hearing is handled by one of our attorneys.
Florida provides an optional state supplement to the federal SSI payment for certain recipients, and the state administers it rather than SSA. It is not an automatic addition to every SSI check. Whether it applies depends on the recipient's living arrangement and circumstances.
Clauson Disability is a national advocacy organization. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, legal services, or legal representation. This website is an advertisement. Clauson Disability is a private organization and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration (SSA) or any other government agency. We provide non-attorney disability advocacy and support services and do not offer legal advice. Contacting us, submitting a form, or speaking with our team does not create an attorney-client relationship. By providing your contact information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and consent to receive communications by phone, text, and/or email including through automated technology where permitted. Consent is not required as a condition of service. We do not determine eligibility or qualify any applicant for SSDI or SSI. Only the SSA determines eligibility and benefit amounts. $4,018 represents the maximum monthly SSDI benefit; actual amounts vary.
