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If you are disabled and need to file for Social Security disability benefits, you may already know that the process you face can be long and arduous. While some claims are approved within weeks, deliberation on others can stretch on for months (or even years). These delays are often caused by backlogs on the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s end, but sometimes they are unwittingly caused by the applicants themselves as they submit incomplete or inaccurate applications. We’re here to help you optimize your disability benefit application in order to expedite the process as much as possible and get the full benefits you deserve. Keep reading to learn some of the best ways to make your application a complete and accurate picture of your disability.
It may seem like it goes without saying, but it’s important to include as much relevant information as possible in your original application. Having all the details at hand will help the SSA determine your eligibility more quickly, without a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth. Take a look at the SSA’s checklist to ensure you have all the documents they require on hand.
Something as small as incorrect personal information can cause your application to be denied. You can save yourself some major headaches by double-checking your application before you submit it. If you move to a new residence while your application is being considered, make sure the SSA has your updated address.
Filing online can make this process easier, since you’ll be able to save your work and come back to it as often as you need to (within six months of the day you started it). If you need even more help collecting and organizing your documents and applying for disability, we recommend contacting a disability lawyer like J. Robert Surface. With his help, you’ll have full confidence that your application is as strong as it can be.
A lack of sufficient medical evidence is one of the most common reasons that disability applications are denied. Evidence is required to prove that you have a medical condition that is eligible for benefits, that you have suffered (or will suffer) from your disability for a year or more and that you are completely unable to work. You will need to provide as much documentation as possible (in the form of medical records, doctors’ statements and even notes from your physicians excusing you from work due to your disability).
Your medical records will need to show that it’s your disability specifically that is keeping you from working, so it’s important that you talk to your doctor about your work life. If you have pictures or records that show that your disability has been going on for a year or more, make sure to include those; if not, include a statement from your doctor’s office regarding their estimation of how long your disability will last. If your disability is not estimated to last (or to have lasted) a year or more, your application will be denied.
Of course, some disabilities are so severe that their impact on a person’s life may be obvious, and if this applies to you, you might have a condition that qualifies for Compassionate Allowance. This is a process that the SSA has in place to identify disability claims that involve conditions that, by definition, are automatically eligible for benefits (including cancers and many other conditions, ranging from common to rare). Receiving a Compassionate Allowance ruling vastly speeds up the process of receiving benefits.
The SSA also offers Quick Disability Determinations (QDD), powered by a computer-based predictive model, as a way to identify cases that have a high probability of approval. If you believe your case could receive a QDD, it’s important to include as much medical information as you have available to increase your odds. Hiring a disability lawyer can be beneficial, since you’ll have a professional on your side to help collect documentation, communicate with your doctors, therapists and surgeons and prepare your application for success.
Did you know that your disability application can receive a special status if your disability began while you were on active duty — even if it wasn’t related to a combat injury? If you served in the military and your disability began during your time on active duty, make sure the SSA is aware. Your application will be marked accordingly and your claim will be processed more quickly.
Now that you’re more aware of everything required for your disability benefits application, you may be wondering if you need to hire a disability lawyer to assist you throughout the process. Your disability is already stressful enough, as is your inability to work — and now you have to navigate the complicated process of applying for benefits as well. That’s why a disability lawyer like J. Robert Surface can be an invaluable help to you. Mr. Surface will take the burden off your shoulders, helping you craft the most thorough application possible. In the event that your claim is denied, he can also help you file an appeal to have your case reexamined. Why wait any longer to get the help you need? Contact us today and get a free case review.
If you have questions, we are available 24/7 at (864) 235-0886. There is no guarantee you will win benefits if you apply. The office of J. Robert Surface, Attorney at Law is located at 513 E Greer St, Honea Path, SC 29654. He proudly serves clients from Greenville, Clemson, and Spartanburg.