Florida Disability Benefits In 2024

Several different types of Florida disability benefits may be available to you including:

• Benefits from private insurers
• Workers’ compensation disability benefits
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits

A Florida disability benefits lawyer will work with you to explore each of these options, determine which program(s) you can qualify for and guide you through the application process if you aren’t certain how to maximize benefits on your own.

Private Florida Disability Benefits

Private insurance companies offer disability benefits. The policies could offer coverage for long-term disabilities, short-term disabilities or both. The amount of your wages they replace depends on the details of your coverage.

You may have disability benefits available as a workplace benefit through the company that employs you. You also have the option to choose to shop for disability coverage as an individual.

You should be aware, though, that you cannot take advantage of these benefits when you get sick or hurt if you haven’t already put the policy in place before the time you become disabled. So you’ll get income from this source only if you had a policy in effect prior to becoming impaired in a way that prevents you from working.

Florida Workers’ Comp Disability Benefits

If you were performing work duties and you got sick or hurt as a direct result, you are entitled to Florida workers’ compensation benefits.

These benefits include not just payment of your medical bills, but also disability benefits for temporary or permanent disabilities. This includes both total and partial disabling conditions.

Some of the Florida disability benefits you may be able to receive through workers’ compensation include:

• Permanent total disability benefits: These equal up to 66.67% of the average wages you earned prior to your disability. To be eligible for these benefits, your doctor must have declared you can never work again.
• Temporary total disability benefits: These benefits are available if your doctor determines you are unable to work at all on a temporary basis for a limited period of time. Benefits aren’t paid for the first seven days of disability unless your condition persists for more than 21 days. You receive up to 80% of your regular wages for up to six months following a severe injury.
• Temporary partial disability benefits: If you can return to work but there are temporary restrictions on your ability to perform your work duties, you are entitled to up to 104 weeks of temporary partial disability benefits. These benefits are available if you are unable to earn at least 80% of your pre-accident wages.
• Impairment benefits: If you have reached maximum medical improvement, your doctor has declared your condition isn’t going to get better and you have ongoing work restrictions, you are entitled to impairment benefits. You will be assigned an impairment rating and the benefits you are entitled to are based on it.

There is an Impairment Income Benefits Calculator available online that helps you estimate the Florida disability benefits you are entitled to receive under the state’s workers’ compensation program.

Remember, though, that these disability benefits are paid only if you can show your injuries are job related. The good news is, you don’t have to sue your employer to get the benefits or prove negligence. But, there could still be conflict over how much money you’re entitled to or how impaired you are, so hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer is important.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

If you cannot qualify for Florida disability benefits, there are two federal programs that could provide the benefits you need if your ability to work is affected by your disability. These programs include:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Eligibility is based on financial need as well as disability status. You qualify if you are disabled, blind, 65 or over and have a low income and limited financial resources.
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): Eligibility is based on work history. Each year, you can earn up to four work credits by paying Social Security tax on eligible earnings. If you earned enough work credits based on your age at the time of your disability, you can get SSDI benefits regardless of financial need.

For either program, you must meet a specific definition of disability set by the Social Security Administration. This means you must have a condition that has lasted or will last a year or that is a terminal condition, and the condition must cause you significant impairment.

Many Social Security Disability claims are denied initially due to the difficulty of proving you are actually disabled enough to get benefits. A disability benefits lawyer can assist you in submitting the strongest possible application for benefits and, if necessary, help you to appeal a denial and fight for the benefits you deserve.

If you are disabled, you owe it to yourself to explore all of the Florida disability benefits in 2024 that might be available to you. If you aren’t sure where to start or want help maximizing your disability income, call an attorney as soon as possible to guide you through the process of applying for benefits.