Get The Support You Need For Long-Term Disabilities In Florida
If you are living with a long-term disability in Florida, know that you are not alone. Many people suffer from different types of physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments that impact their health and ability to work or engage in usual daily activities. Getting long-term disability benefits and other support can help in maintaining your financial security and your quality of life. Our Jacksonville long-term disability lawyer explains some of the options available.
Underlying Issues For People With Long-Term Disabilities In Florida
According to the Florida Department of Health, close to four million people, or roughly one in three adults, suffer from some type of disability that affects their daily lives. Long-term disabilities are those that prevent you from working for a year or more. If this describes your situation, it is important to get help in dealing with special needs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that people with long-term disabilities often have serious underlying issues that need to be addressed. These include:
- Obtaining safe, affordable, and accessible housing;
- Getting quality medical care and arranging transportation for doctor visits;
- Refilling expensive medications, maintaining the proper dosages, and managing side effects and the potential for addiction;
- Obtaining mental health services for issues common among people with long-term disabilities, such as depression and anxiety;
- Planning for assisted living or long-term care, which may be needed as your condition progresses.
- Obtaining the Social Security or other long-term disability insurance benefits you need.
Support For People With Long-Term Disabilities
If you suffer from a long-term disability, one of the first steps you need to take in caring for yourself is to review your rights to benefits. Long-term disability benefits may be available either through employer-provided group policies, private insurers, or through the Social Security Administration (SSA). These benefits can help in providing a steady income, allowing you to meet housing, food, medical care, and other expenses.
The Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities advises making an action plan to address how you will meet your other needs and maintain your quality of life. This involves creating a support team, which may include the following:
- Your spouse, adult children, or other family members you live with;
- Close friends who may have offered their support;
- Legal representatives who can help protect your rights and work on your behalf in obtaining the maximum amount of benefits you are entitled to;
- Medical care team, to ensure your condition is being managed properly;
- Support groups or other services that provide counseling and encouragement in meeting the daily demands of living with a long-term disability.
Get The Help You Need From Our Florida Long-Term Disability Lawyer
Living with long-term disabilities is one of the most challenging situations you can face, but help and support are available. For trusted, local legal guidance in obtaining disability benefits, reach out to our Florida long-term disability lawyer at Farrell Disability Law. Call or contact our office online to request a confidential consultation in our Jacksonville or Orlando office today.
Sources:
floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/people-with-disabilities/disability-and-health-program/DHP2021DataReport.pdf
cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/relatedconditions.html
ssa.gov/benefits/disability/
