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Ortiz Law Firm | National Disability Law Firm
Ortiz Law Firm is dedicated to helping people recover the disability benefits they deserve. We handle group Long Term Disability (LTD) claims, individual disability insurance policy claims, ERISA disability claims, and Social Security Disability claims.
AARP recently launched its Social Security Benefits Calculator, a planning resource to help Americans decide when to claim benefits and to assist them in preparing for retirement. Many people question when they should claim Social Security benefits. Amazingly, more than half of those claiming retirement benefits in 2009 elected to receive benefits …
The rules and requirements to qualify for Social Security disability cases are relatively straightforward. In short, to be eligible for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits, a claimant must satisfy both the medical and non-medical (financial) requirements for benefits. You …
Today, the National Review published a partisan attack on the organization Binder & Binder and collaterally on the Social Security Disability system of benefits in an article titled Binder on Binder & Binder. Notice that I called Binder & Binder an organization, not a law firm. This is by choice, as it is not really …
Navigating the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim process can be challenging and lengthy. Many claimants wait months for a decision on their claims, which often creates financial hardships for them. There is not much you can do to speed up the application process. If the SSA denies your …
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is committed to providing Social Security disability benefits quickly to claimants whose medical conditions are so serious that they clearly meet Social Security’s strict disability standards. Social Security’s two fast-track processes, Quick Disability Determination (QDD) and Compassionate Allowances (CAL), …
It can be a very important step in the process of the dog bite victim getting damages for their injury to take photographs of the wound as evidence. The victim needs to have pictures taken of the wound at several points in time following the incident: immediately afterwards before any treatment, during the initial treatment, …
Have you ever found yourself barreling down the interstate, surrounded on all sides by towering semi-trucks, pushing the limits of your engine (and sanity), just to stay with the flow of traffic? Then… it starts to rain. Suddenly, and without a moment’s notice, what began as a relaxing road trip has turned into an all-out, …
National numbers and statistics show approximately 70% of all initial applications for Social Security disability benefits are denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This website is dedicated to educating you about the Social Security disability application and appeal process to try and increase your chance of winning your disability …
This is where many claimants go wrong. I cannot tell you how many times I have spoken with Social Security disability claimants who received an unfavorable Notice of Determination or Notice of Reconsideration, and then failed to take immediate action. It happens for many reasons. They put the letter aside out of frustration or despair. The claimant …
As Florida’s population continues to grow, so does the number of motorcycle enthusiasts on the road, which makes motorcycle safety an important issue. The number of motorcycle accidents, crashes, injuries, and fatalities in the United States has increased in recent years, and the State of Florida has shown the same trend. The charts below reflect …
DUI stands for “Driving Under the Influence”. DWI stands for “Driving While Intoxicated” or “Driving While Impaired”. When a person is charged with a DUI it usually means that he or she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating a motor vehicle. However, a DUI charge is not just for drinking or …
Note: SSR 06-03p was Rescinded by Federal Register Notice Vol. 82, No. 57, page 15263, effective March 27, 2017 SSR 06-03p is a Policy Interpretation Ruling in SSDI and SSI disability claims titled ‘Considering Opinions and Other Evidence from Sources Who Are Not “Acceptable Medical Sources” in Disability Claims; Considering Decisions on …
The Insurance Information Institute has reported that dog bite claims have made up more than a third of all homeowners insurance claims. That comes to about 15,000 claims a year. The average cost per claim was over $64,000 as of 2022. Most homeowners insurance policies cover dog bite liability and will pay for any injury …
It doesn’t happen very often, but every now and again a claimant will ask me if the Social Security Administration conducts surveillance to use against the claimant in processing continuing disability review (“CDR”) claims. Up until this weekend, I would have said, “No. Although possible, I have never heard of the Social Security Administration …
Applicants and claimants for Social Security disability claims often ask me whether they “really” need an attorney to represent them through the application and approval process for benefits. I would never state that you need to hire an attorney because a claimant may go through the entire appeals process without an attorney or other …
The definition of disability for Social Security claims is different from the definitions of disability used by insurance companies like New York Life or Unum. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability. For all individuals applying for disability benefits under Title …
If you are an adult who has been bitten by a dog, it can be very helpful to hire a lawyer to handle your claim, rather than trying to settle on your own. Dogs bite nearly 5 million people in the United States every year and around 15,000 of them get compensation for their injury, …
When I came home from work recently, my wife was pretty upset. I asked her what was wrong. She said that she and our children were almost run over in the parking lot at Walmart. They had just finished a grocery shopping trip at the store. They were walking back to our vehicle, when a …
Once your Social Security Disability hearing is completed, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) will issue a written decision. The length of time it will take to issue the decision depends on the individual Judge. In the Pensacola, FL / Mobile, AL area, the time ranges from just a couple weeks to over six months. The …
Dog bites can cause serious pain and injury to the victims of the aggressive animal. In the worst cases, it can be essential to recognize signs and symptoms of your condition and know how to temporarily treat it. One of the most serious injuries that can occur during a dog attack is a bone fracture. …
I cannot emphasize enough that the most important part of a Social Security Disability claim is medical records. The most common response I receive from my clients is, “How am I supposed to see a doctor or go to the hospital if I don’t have any money or insurance?” This is a valid point. In fact, lack …
Doctor shopping is the practice of seeking out multiple doctors – often to either: (1) obtain a specific diagnosis or medication or (2) find one that agrees with you on your disability or illness. Doctor shopping is not just for claimants; insurance carriers have also been known to doctor shop. What Is Doctor Shopping? When …
People often ask us what the chances are that they will win a lawsuit in a long-term disability claim. It is impossible to answer with certainty because of the number of factors that go into the decision. However, I can speak from our firm’s own experience. First, we must clarify what we mean by “winning a lawsuit.” …
When you’re going through the long-term disability application process the insurance company will typically send you an application that has a few pages of questions for you. One of the questions is, “What is it about your condition(s) that keeps you from being able to work?” There might be two lines for you to fill in why …