At Cavey and Barrett, we believe you should not face financial ruin because you have been denied Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI benefits). Navigating the increasingly complex and frustrating claims process for long term disability insurance, ERISA disability insurance claims and Florida City and State Pension Disability claims without the assistance of attorneys experienced in proving how your disability entitles you to benefits is risky. Workers injured on the job should be paid workers' compensation benefits and timely provided medical treatment. When workers compensation benefits are denied, discontinued, or reduced, it might be necessary to hire a workers' compensation attorney. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, EMT, and correctional officers put their lives on the line for us daily. Florida First Responders should be paid the workers' compensation benefits they are due when they are injured on the job or develop heart disease, hypertension, hepatitis or TB. Florida workers are entitled to unpaid wages, unpaid overtime and unpaid commissions their employers fail to pay. They need the assistance of a Florida Wage and Hour lawyer to get the wages they are rightfully due.

Practice Areas

Long Term Disability ERISA and Private Disability Insurance Claims

Social Security Disability (SSD)

Disability Claims Application

Disability Claims Appeals

Florida City and State Pension Disability Claims

Your Rights to Florida Workers’ Compensation Benefits - Medical Care and Lost Wage Benefits

Florida First Responders and Their Rights to Workers' Compensation Benefits

Florida Wage and Hour Law

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Cavey Law Blog

Long Term Disability ERISA and Private Disability Insurance Claims

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Social Security Disability (SSD)

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Florida First Responders and Their Rights to Workers' Compensation Benefits

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General

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FREE Books

Florida's First Responder Heart/Lung Benefits: What You Need to KnowFlorida's First Responder Heart/Lung Benefits: What You Need to Know

Your Wage and Hour Rights -Information Your Employer Never Wanted You to Hear.

Your Rights to Social Security Disability Benefits - Information the Social Security Administration Rarely Tells Your About Your Claim.

Robbed of Your Peace of Mind? Important Information on Long Term Disability Insurance Policies, The Claims Process, and How to Win Your Long Term Disabality Benefits.

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Bridging the Gap for Floridians

The Law Offices of Cavey and Barrett has a long record in the Tampa Bay area of achieving successful results for our clients. No two clients are the same and each client has unique legal problems that require creative solutions.

Most legal advertisements look the same and shout the same message. As you can tell from this website, we are a truely different law firm. We offer you free no obligation books such as:

We have extensive experience in disability cases and have helped clients with medical conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, spinal injuries, post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. At Cavey and Barrett we provide the competitive edge by using software that gives us up to the minute changes in medical literature and information about the combined effects of medication you may be taking.

To order your free book click on the book you wish  or to schedule a free initial consultation, contact our law firm today or complete the contact information form.

Our Attorneys

Nancy Cavey has spent her career working tirelessly on behalf of Floridians who have not received fair treatment or promised benefits. In August of 2004, her legal peers selected her to serve as Chair of the Workers Compensation Section of the Florida Bar. She is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claims Representatives (NOSSCR), the American Association for Justice, the Employee Benefit Section of the American Bar Association and the National Employment Lawyers Association, and the Florida Bar.

Sharon M. Barrett has devoted her career to fighting for the rights of the disabled. She began her career working for the Social Security Administration. She held a variety of positions with the agency including fifteen years in management. In 1998, she began working as an attorney advisor to Administrative Law Judges at the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.  In October 2000, after a successful career of twenty-three years in federal employment, Sharon entered private practice where she continues to fight for the rights of the disabled in the areas of workers compensation and social security disability. She is licensed to practice law in the states of Ohio and Florida and is a member of National Organization of Social Security Claims Representatives (NOSSCR).  

Our Practice Areas

The Law Offices of Cavey and Barrett are currently accepting cases in the following areas of Employment and Disability Law:

Long Term Disability ERISA and Private Disability Insurance Claims

While the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was meant to provide a fair and impartial review of benefit disputes, many insurers use the Act to systematically deny benefits. Severely injured or disabled workers find themselves facing financial ruin when their legitimate claims are refused. By taking advantage of what many policyholders do not know, insurers often intimidate policyholders or manipulate them into thinking that their options are limited. We defend the rights of policyholders by handling individual policy claims which are governed by Florida’s Insurance Laws, as well as claims brought against group disability plans which are governed by ERISA. We are currently offering a free book, "Robbed of Your Peace of Mind" on what you should know about your employer’s long term disability insurance.

Social Security Disability (SSD)

Aside from the physical and emotional conditions that prevent you from working, there is also a financial reality that can make an already bad situation even worse. The process of obtaining Social Security Disability Benefits can be confusing, time consuming and complicated, especially for one who is recovering from a traumatic event and adjusting to a life that has been irrevocably changed. At Cavey and Barrett we can help determine what benefits you are eligible for and whether you are likely to be considered "disabled" under the Social Security Rules and Regulations. We also complete all of the necessary paperwork, contact your medical providers and secure individualized reports that address your functional limitations and disabilities. If necessary, we arrange for additional medical examinations or vocational evaluations. Finally, we will file appeals on your behalf including a request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge if necessary and will prepare your case and represent you at your hearing. We offer a must read free informational book " Your Rights to Social Security Disability Benefits"

Disability Claims Application

Can you paint a picture why your condition entitles you to benefits? Understanding how to fill out your disability claims application is crucial to increasing your chances for the acceptance of your claim or success in the appeals process. At Cavey and Barrett we know that providing a complete and accurate picture of your medical history, work history and educational information and why your disability prevents you from working makes your case come alive and increases your chances for an award of benefits.

Disability Claims Appeals

In addition to the physical and emotional conditions that make it impossible for you to work, dealing the the Social Security Disability Application process can be time-consuming, frustrating and complex.A Social Security Disability applicant must file an initial claims application which is normally denied by the Social Security Administation. A disability claims appeal, called a Request for Reconsideration, must be filed within 90 days of the initial denial or the claim will be barred. The Request for Reconsideration is also usually denied and a Reuqest for a Hearing must be filed. Failing to timely file a disability claims appeal can be fatal to your claim. Statistics show that Social Security applicants with an experienced lawyer have a better chance of success and at Cavey and Barrett who help you through all phases of the Social Security Disabiltiy Claims process.

Florida City and State Pension Disability Claims

The Florida Retirement System Pension (FRS) bases its definition of “disability” on the opinion of an FRS administrator. While this would seem to be a reasonable condition for obtaining disability benefits, it could also prove disastrous for those that are unfamiliar with the process of reporting and validating their injuries. The attorneys at Cavey and Barrett have years of experience in removing doubt from claims of disability, and can help injured state workers get the compensation that they are entitled to and deserve.

Some cities have their own disability plans. They use examinations by their carefully chosen physicians to counter what their own worker’s compensation doctors have said about your ability to work. At Cavey and Barrett we will assist you with the paperwork and if necessary, secure individualized reports that address your functional limitations and disabilities. We may also arrange for additional medical examinations or vocational evaluations. If a hearing is necessary, we will prepare your case and represent you at that hearing.

Your Rights to Florida Workers’ Compensation Benefits - Medical Care and Lost Wage Benefits

Floridians hurt at work are entitled to Florida workers' compensation benefits, such as lost wage benefits like temporary total, temporary partial disability benefits,impariment benefits, and permanent total disabiltiy benefits. If you have an injury at work you may be entitled to medical treatment and medical mileage. Those with work place injuries are denied Florida workers' compensation benefits, or see those benefits reduced or discontinued. It may be necessary to hire a St.Petersburg Workers Compensation Attorney/workplace attorney to file a Petition for Benefits on your behalf to get the proper benefits. Nancy Cavey, a board certified workers' compensation attorney and a workers' compensation hearing/Floria workers' comp appeal lawyer, practices in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and Tampa.

Florida First Responders and Their Rights to Workers' Compensation Benefits

Florida First Responders can suffer from heart disease, hypertension, hepatitis, meningitis, TB and mental or nervous injuries which are presumed compensable under F.S. 112.18 (Heart/Lung Statute). Their workers' compensation claims are being wronfully denied and First Responders can learn about their rights by ordering Free Copy of "What First Responders Should Know About Florida's Presumption Statute" at caveylaw.com

Florida Wage and Hour Law

Accepting a paycheck from an employer does not mean that you surrender your rights as a citizen. It is an unfortunate truth that many employers routinely take advantage of their employees. They refuse to pay for overtime, have employees work “off the clock,” alter times sheets, or require workers to arrive early to perform required preparations for their job. We provide our clients with a Wage/Hour Audit to determine whether or not they have been treated fairly in accordance with the law, and we provide thorough and dedicated legal counsel for those that have been taken advantage of by their employers. Cavey and Barrett are currently offering a special report on your rights as a working Florida citizen.

The Firm

The Law Office of Cavey and Barrett has been awarded an AV rating. This rating shows that an attorney has reached the height of professional excellence and is recognized by his/her peers for the highest levels of skill and integrity. Fewer than 5% of all law firms qualify for this rating.

We take pride in helping those who would otherwise simply fall through the cracks, and we provide the full scope of our knowledge, experience and compassion to all of our clients.

If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties in obtaining promised benefits, or you feel that you are being taken advantage of by your employer, contact our offices for a free legal consultation today.

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