Trusted Social Security lawyers serving clients across Melbourne and the surrounding area since 1999.
If your SSDI or SSI claim was denied in Melbourne, FL, you have legal options. Many initial disability applications are denied, but a properly developed appeal often produces a different result. Our Melbourne, FL Social Security Lawyer handles denied claims through every level of review, from reconsideration through federal court. The Law Offices of Arcadier, Biggie & Wood has served clients across the Space Coast since 1999, with more than 75 years of combined legal experience across the firm. Schedule a consultation to discuss your case with us.
Social Security Lawyer Melbourne, FL
The Social Security Administration runs two main disability programs. Social Security Disability Insurance, often called SSDI, pays workers who have built up enough credits through prior employment and can no longer work due to a medical condition expected to last a year or longer. Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, pays people with limited income and resources who meet the same disability standard.
A Social Security attorney usually steps in after a denial. We gather medical evidence, prepare written arguments, and represent claimants at hearings before an administrative law judge. When a hearing decision is unfavorable, we can pursue review by the Appeals Council and, when necessary, file suit in federal district court.
Types of Social Security Cases We Handle in Melbourne
Most of the work in our Social Security practice happens after a denial. The firm represents claimants pursuing both Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, and we take cases through every stage of review available within the system. Below are the situations we most often handle for clients in Melbourne, FL and across Brevard County.
- Initial application denials. A first denial is not the end of the road, but it is a deadline. Claimants generally have 60 days from the date of the notice to request reconsideration, and we move quickly to evaluate what went wrong and what evidence may strengthen the file.
- Reconsideration appeals. Reconsideration involves a fresh review by someone who did not handle the initial decision. We supplement the medical record, address gaps the prior reviewer flagged, and submit written arguments tied to the SSA’s standards for disability.
- Administrative law judge hearings. Hearings before an ALJ are where many cases turn. We prepare claimants for testimony, develop the medical evidence, cross-examine vocational and medical experts called by the agency, and present a clear theory of why the claimant cannot sustain full-time work.
- Appeals Council review. When a hearing decision contains legal error or overlooks key evidence, the next step is the Appeals Council. We draft the brief, identify the specific errors, and request remand or reversal.
- Federal district court appeals. If the Appeals Council declines to disturb the decision, we can file a civil action in federal district court. Our firm is admitted in the courts where these cases are heard and brings substantial federal court background to that work.
- SSDI claims. SSDI cases turn on work history and medical eligibility. We help confirm insured status, build the medical record, and address common pitfalls such as substantial gainful activity and the alleged onset date.
- SSI claims. SSI cases involve both medical eligibility and the financial rules around income, resources, and living arrangements. We help families understand how those rules interact.
- Overpayment defense. When the SSA notifies a recipient that benefits were overpaid, we evaluate the basis for the demand, request waivers when appropriate, and challenge the calculation.
Why Choose Law Offices of Arcadier, Biggie & Wood for Social Security in Melbourne, FL?
Appellate and Federal Court Experience
The firm’s Social Security cases are handled by Stephen J. Biggie, a partner at the Law Offices of Arcadier, Biggie & Wood. Mr. Biggie has practiced law in Florida since 2010 and is admitted before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His civil practice spans trials and appeals at both the state and federal level, with significant work in complex appellate matters. That background matters in Social Security cases, where success at hearing and beyond often depends on building a clean record and writing well-organized briefs. He earned his J.D. from Barry University School of Law in 2010 and his B.A. from the University of Buffalo in 2007.
A Practice Rooted in the Space Coast
The Law Offices of Arcadier, Biggie & Wood has practiced in Melbourne since 1999. The firm carries more than 75 years of combined legal experience and serves clients across Brevard County. Our work spans litigation, administrative proceedings, and appeals in many practice areas, and we apply that courtroom breadth to every Social Security matter we accept.
Understanding Social Security Cases
How Social Security Defines Disability and How Appeals Work
Most disputes in Social Security cases come down to two issues. The first is whether the claimant meets the SSA’s definition of disability. The second is whether the agency followed its own rules in evaluating the claim. A short overview of the framework puts the rest of the process in context.
- Definition of disability. The SSA considers an adult disabled if a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, prevents the person from engaging in substantial gainful activity.
- The Listing of Impairments. The agency maintains a publication often called the Blue Book that catalogs medical conditions and the criteria for finding each one disabling. Meeting or equaling a listing is one path to approval.
- The five-step evaluation. Claims that do not meet a listing move through a five-step sequential process that looks at work activity, severity, listings, past relevant work, and other work available in the national economy.
- Medical-vocational guidelines. The “grid” rules consider age, education, and prior work to decide whether claimants can adjust to other work.
- Levels of appeal. A denied claim moves through reconsideration, an administrative law judge hearing, the Appeals Council, and, in some cases, federal district court.
What Are Important Aspects of a Social Security Case?
Medical evidence drives Social Security cases. Treatment records, opinions from treating providers, and documentation of how symptoms affect day-to-day function carry far more weight than a claimant’s own description of being unable to work. Common qualifying conditions include musculoskeletal disorders, mental health diagnoses, cardiovascular disease, and long-term limitations following events like brain injuries, strokes, or paralysis from accidents. Some claimants come to us after a construction accident or other workplace event ended their ability to do their prior job. Others arrive with questions about how a workers’ compensation claim interacts with disability benefits. We focus on:
- The medical record. Consistent treatment, specialist evaluations, and detailed treating-source opinions tied to specific functional limitations.
- The work history. Past relevant work, transferable skills, and earnings records that affect insured status for SSDI.
- Functional capacity. What the claimant can still do despite impairments, including sitting, standing, lifting, concentration, and social interaction.
- Credibility and consistency. Statements in medical records, function reports, and testimony must align with the rest of the file.
What Is the Social Security Case Timeline?
Social Security cases move slowly. Each stage has its own queue, and timelines vary by office and judge. Below is a general picture of what to expect.
- Initial decision. Three to six months on average.
- Reconsideration. Another three to six months after the request is filed.
- Administrative law judge hearing. Wait times vary widely. Several months in some offices, more than a year in others.
- Appeals Council. Decisions on requests for review typically take many months and sometimes more than a year.
- Federal district court. From filing through, the final decision usually runs a year or longer.
What Should You Bring to Your Social Security Consultation?
We use the first meeting to assess where the case stands, what evidence is missing, and what the next deadline looks like. Bringing certain documents helps us provide a meaningful evaluation.
- The denial notice or most recent decision letter from the SSA.
- A list of treating doctors, hospitals, and clinics with approximate dates of care.
- A summary of current medications and ongoing treatments.
- Recent earnings records or W-2s if available.
- A copy of your work history for the last 15 years if you have it.
Bring questions, too. Most consultations cover the merits of the case, realistic timelines, and what the next 60 days look like.
What Are Important Legal Resources for Social Security Cases in Florida?
Social Security is a federal program, so most authoritative resources come from the Social Security Administration and the federal courts rather than from state agencies. The list below offers a starting point for understanding how the system works and where to find primary materials.
- The SSA’s main page for Social Security Disability Insurance information.
- The SSA’s appeals page, which explains the four levels of administrative review in plain language.
- The SSA’s publication of the Listing of Impairments, often called the Blue Book, with the medical criteria used to evaluate adult and child claims.
- The SSA’s SSI overview, which covers the financial and medical eligibility rules for Supplemental Security Income.
- The Middle District of Florida Orlando Division, which handles civil actions for Brevard County, including Social Security appeals filed in federal court.
- The Eleventh Circuit, which hears appeals from the federal district courts in Florida.
Local agencies and community organizations can help with disability-related needs beyond the legal claim.
Reach Out to the Law Offices of Arcadier, Biggie & Wood to Schedule a Consultation
If a Social Security claim has been denied or you are facing a hearing, the next step often matters more than what came before. Contact us to discuss what level of review applies and what the file needs before the next deadline. We respond promptly and can usually schedule a meeting within a few business days.