Port Saint Lucie, FL asked in Appeals / Appellate Law, Civil Rights, Gov & Administrative Law and Social Security for Florida

Q: Denied for SSI and passed appeal deadline due to SSI and other lawyers discriminating based off of age. What do I do?

SSI denied me saying that despite knowing my limitations, they say it wasn’t, “severe” enough. They were basing off of my education, job history, and age. When I was reaching out to 3 other lawyer/lawyer firms, they refused to take my case due to my age. It passed my deadline due to their discrimination. Is there anyone that can help me with my particular case for helping submit a reconsideration request after the appeal deadline? My disabilities are physical and mental, but mostly applying for mental disabilities due to more recent evidence.

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered

A: You may still have options to address the missed appeal deadline for your SSI claim. If you believe the delay was due to discrimination or misinformation from lawyers who refused your case based on age, you could try to file a request for reconsideration with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Even after a deadline, if you provide a valid reason for missing it, such as lack of representation or discrimination, the SSA may allow a late appeal.

It's essential to document everything—names, dates, and details of conversations with those lawyers who refused to help you. This evidence can be valuable if you need to demonstrate that your deadline was missed due to no fault of your own. Additionally, you can reach out to legal aid organizations or advocacy groups that assist with disability claims to find someone who is willing to represent you.

Consider contacting your local Legal Aid Society or a disability advocacy group in Florida. They may have resources or attorneys willing to help you navigate the reconsideration process and advocate on your behalf. Do not give up; there are professionals and organizations that understand the complexities of SSI claims and can offer guidance and support.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.