Denied disability in Fort Lauderdale? Most claims are — and most appeals need a lawyer.
Most Social Security disability claims are denied the first time, and that denial is not the end of the road — it is the start of an appeal that wins far more often with a lawyer. These Fort Lauderdale firms handle that fight, and they only get paid if you do.
These Fort Lauderdale disability firms handle Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and, in some cases, private long-term disability insurance. The federal system is paperwork-heavy and denial-prone, and the appeal hearing in front of an administrative law judge is where representation matters most. Because federal law caps disability attorney fees and ties them to your back pay, you pay nothing unless you win — so there is no financial reason to face an appeal alone.
How we picked these firms: We reviewed peer rankings and directories (Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw), client-review patterns, board certifications, and bar recognition. Only firms confirmed across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. A note on the count: we publish only firms that cleared our two-source verification bar, so this guide lists 7 firms rather than a padded ten. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, appeals
Founder Kevin Dugan is a former Social Security disability judge who decided roughly 10,000 hearings — rare inside knowledge of exactly how claims are evaluated and what evidence moves a judge.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, private disability insurance
Attorney Robert Kiel has practiced more than 30 years and handles both Social Security and private or ERISA disability-insurance claims. Useful if you have a private policy in addition to Social Security.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI
Attorney Carol Avard is board-certified in Social Security disability advocacy, and the firm fields several board-certified SSD attorneys — a meaningful credential in a field with many non-lawyer representatives.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, federal-court appeals
Attorney Eddy Pierre has more than 20 years representing claimants at hearings and into federal district court. A good fit if your case may need to go past the agency.
Practice focus: Long-term & short-term disability insurance (ERISA)
A 12-lawyer practice handling private disability-insurance claims, denials, and appeals, reporting more than $1 billion recovered. Best for ERISA and private-policy claims rather than Social Security.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, injury
A long-running South Florida firm with a dedicated Social Security disability team and free consultations. Broad resources and a familiar name across the region.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, appeals
The large plaintiff firm's disability team handles first-time applications and appeals on contingency, with the staffing to manage the paperwork load and follow-up.
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Social Security disability lawyers work on contingency, set by federal law: 25% of your past-due benefits, capped at $9,200 (the current Social Security Administration limit), and nothing if you do not win. There is no hourly charge and no retainer. Private long-term-disability (ERISA) cases are also usually contingency-based. Consultations are free.
An initial Social Security decision usually takes three to six months. If you are denied, reconsideration adds another three to five months. The administrative law judge hearing — where most awards happen — commonly has a nine-to-twelve-month wait. Start to finish, a contested claim often runs one to two years, which is exactly why filing the appeal promptly matters.
Most first claims are denied. A denial does not mean you do not qualify — it means the system denies most initial applications. The appeal, especially the judge hearing, is where strong medical evidence and a prepared lawyer change the outcome.
Florida's DDS makes the medical call first. Initial medical determinations are handled by Florida's Disability Determination Services. A lawyer makes sure your treating doctors' records and opinions are actually in the file before that decision is made.
Hearings are local. Broward claimants are generally heard through a Social Security hearing office serving Fort Lauderdale. A local representative who appears in front of those judges knows what each one wants to see.
The fee is capped and contingent. Federal law limits the fee to 25% of back pay, up to $9,200, and only if you win. You never pay out of pocket, which removes the usual reason people delay getting help.
Most firms on this list offer a free first consultation. Use it — and talk to at least two before you commit. The right fit depends on your facts, your budget, and how the attorney communicates. A few questions cut through the marketing fast.
Most Fort Lauderdale firms are competent and ethical. A few are not. The patterns worth walking away from:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a recovery, a dismissal, or an approval, leave.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior attorney at intake, then never speak to them again. Ask in writing who your day-to-day lawyer will be.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the agreement in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a sign of a volume mill.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate firm gives you a written engagement letter spelling out the fee and what triggers extra charges.
Nothing up front. Social Security disability fees are set by federal law at 25% of your back pay, capped at $9,200, and paid only if you win. There is no hourly charge and no retainer.
Most initial claims are denied — often for insufficient medical evidence, gaps in treatment, or technical errors, not because you do not qualify. The appeal is where a lawyer rebuilds the record and wins.
SSDI is for people with enough work history who paid into Social Security. SSI is a needs-based program for people with limited income and resources. Some people qualify for both; a lawyer sorts out which applies.
Reconsideration adds three to five months after an initial denial, and the judge hearing commonly has a nine-to-twelve-month wait. The whole process often runs one to two years, so filing the appeal quickly matters.
Almost always appeal. Starting over usually resets the clock and can cost you back pay. A lawyer will tell you which path protects the most benefits in your specific case.
Some do. Private long-term-disability claims are governed by a different law (often ERISA) with its own deadlines and appeal rules. A few firms on this list focus specifically on those policy claims.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews, call two or three firms, and ask each one how many cases like yours they have handled in the last three years. The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team