SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE - LOCAL PHONE NUMBERS - FLORENCE, HUNTSVILLE, DECATUR

Here are those hard to find telephone numbers for North Alabama Social Security field offices.  Please note that all Social Security offices now use toll free numbers which DO ring into the local office shown below.  

FLORENCE, AL     (855) 884-3407

DECATUR, AL       (888) 289-9185 (Serves Athens, also)

HUNTSVILLE, AL   (866) 593-0665

HOURS OF OPERATION

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays  9 AM to 3 PM

Wednesdays:  9 AM to 12 Noon

Social Security offices close Saturday and Sunday and for all Federal holidays.

 

 Reaching a Social Security office on the telephone can be difficult.  Here are some tips that may help you out:

• All calls are now answered automatically by computer.  You will be given options.

• Option 1 asks you to dial 1 if you want information about health insurance, Obama Care, etc.  If you do not, press 2.

• The second option asks you to press 1 if you know the extension number you wish to reach.  You probably do not, so press 0 for the operator.

• You will have to listen to some recorded announcements and music while a Social Security employee finds time to grab the phone.  Just hold on and be patient.  If you want to try the national helpline number it is 800-772-1213.  Average wait time on this number is 15 minutes.

  If you need to speak to a disability advocate (someone dedicated to helping you win Social Security disability benefits) please call the Forsythe Firm in Huntsville at (256) 799-0297.  No fee unless you win.

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  This website is NOT sponsored by the Social Security Administration and the Forsythe Firm is not affiliated with the US Social Security Administration.

GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AT AGE 50

If you are age 50 or over, you may qualify for Social Security benefits for any physical or mental condition which prevents you from full-time work.

Yes, younger individuals may also qualify.  However, Social Security uses Medical-Vocational Guidelines which relax the requirements somewhat for persons age 50 and over.

In addition to your age, other factors include your past work experience and education.  But being age 50 or more is the greatest single advantage a claimant has in being approved for Social Security benefits.

The Forsythe Firm will provide you with a free case evaluation and local consultation.  If we represent you, you will never pay a fee until you get benefits with back payments.  If you do not win benefits you will never pay us a fee for any service we perform.

Contact us at (256) 799-0297.  We're located across from Bridge Street.

AVOID THESE FATAL MISTAKES IN YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CLAIM

Only about one-fourth of applications for Social Security disability benefits are approved without a hearing.  Below are some of the serious mistakes that claimants make.  If you are filing for Social Security disability, know these mistakes and avoid them for the best chance of winning benefits:

1.  Believing that the Social Security doctor will say that you are disabled.    This is technically impossible because doctors are not allowed to make the decision.  The doctor will only perform an examination.  The doctor Social Security sends you to will often spend no more than 15 -20 minutes with you and will perform a very limited examination.  He has no incentive to find you disabled, since he is paid by Social Security.  You certainly may get a more fair exam from your own doctor.

2.  Don't fail to ask your own doctor to complete a Medical Source Statement.  This is a form which explains what specific limitations you have in performing work related functions, such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, bending, concentrating, etc.  This is in addition to routine medical records and does not require a special examination.

3.  Filing for disability while you are still working.  You cannot file for disability while you are working at "substantial gainful activity" or SGA.  In 2017, this amounts to work that pays you at least $1,170 per month.  Work that pays less than the SGA amount may not disqualify you.

4.  You have to prove that your disability will last at least 12 consecutive months (or that it has already lasted that long).  There is no short term disability with Social Security.  12 months is the minimum duration for a qualifying disability.

5. Failing to get medical treatment.  All disability awards must be based on "medically determinable impairments."  You will need your doctor to examine you, diagnose your problems and determine how severe your symptoms are.  Medical doctors, licensed physician's assistants and clinical psychologists are "accepted medical sources" with Social Security.  Chiropractors, licensed professional counselors and nurse practitioners are not.

6.  Failure to get psychological problems diagnosed and treated.  Social Security must consider psychiatric or emotional problems as well as physical problems - but they must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, or at least by your family doctor.  Untreated psychological problems will go nowhere at Social Security.

7.  You must apply while you have Social Security coverage.  Not everyone has Social Security disability coverage.  You become covered by working and paying a special tax called FICA tax, which is required to be withheld on every worker and paid to the Social Security trust fund.You must earn enough quarters of work to be covered.  Also, when you stop working, you eventually lose your disability coverage with Social Security.  This usually happens after 4 years of no work.  If there are gaps in your work, your coverage may expire in less than 4 years.  The date you stop being covered is called your "date last insured" or DLI.  So, eligibility under Social Security is not permanent.

8.  You have to appeal unfavorable decisions within 60 days.  Being denied is not the exception, it's the rule.  Be prepared to file a request for hearing within 60 days after you receive a denial letter from Social Security.  This 60 day rule is very strict.  If you wait too long you cannot appeal the claim and must start all over.  Avoid this wasted time.

9.  Avoid trying to represent yourself (pro se representation).  Social Security law is a highly technical and specialized field.  The US disability program is governed by thousands of pages of rules and regulations.  If you don't meet the rules or follow the correct procedures you can be denied and this may cost you thousands--even hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.  Consider getting a specialist to represent you and arrange a "contingency fee" situation where the representative gets paid only if you win. 

10.  Failure to prepare the vocational (work) aspects of your claim.  There are two important parts of a Social Security disability claim:  the medical aspect is the best known part.  However, there is an equally important vocational aspect to the claim.  Past work will be classified and a vocational expert will be asked to determine (a) whether you can perform any of your past relevant work and, (b) whether there are any other jobs in the US economy that you could still perform, in spite of your physical and/or mental limitations.  Failure to adequately prepare the vocational aspect of your claim will result in a denial, just like failure to prepare the medical part of the claim will get you denied.

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