Navigating Social Security Disability Insurance

Do you have a serious medical condition that prevents you from working? If so, you may want to consider applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is a Federal program that pays out over $143 billion per year to more than 11 million Americans unable to work because of serious illness or impairment. The SSDI program is primarily paid for by social security taxes that are withheld from your paychecks, therefore, you need to have worked a certain number of years by the time you become disabled to be eligible for SSDI. It may sound like easy money, but standards are strict and only about one-third of all applications are approved for payment of benefits. The benefits are also modest; the average monthly benefit for the program is $1,165. The program isn’t designed to completely replace your income, but to help with basic living needs. With those caveats, if you think SSDI benefits can help, here are a few tips to maximize the chances of being approved.

Talk To Your Doctor

Talk to your doctor and get an assessment of whether he or she thinks you are disabled. If your doctor thinks your condition is likely to improve with treatment, it may not be worth filing an application. On the other hand, if your doctor is almost certain that you are disabled long-term, that is a good indication that you are a prime candidate for SSDI, and it is important to have that assessment on the record for the application process.

Gather As Many Of Your Medical Records As Possible Before Applying

Hospital administrators and busy doctors are hard to reach and do not like performing administrative tasks like copying your medical records for you. But don’t let that discourage you from obtaining all the relevant medical records that exist. The more you can document the existence and severity of your condition, and your efforts to seek treatment for it, the better the chances are that your application will be approved. If possible, you should get your doctor to write and sign a statement describing your condition, treatments you have had, the doctor’s prognosis, and his opinion as to how long your disability will last, and what your physical or mental limitations are as a result of the disability.

File For Benefits Quickly

It takes the Social Security Administration (SSA) approximately three to five months to process your initial applications. If you are initially denied and decide to apply for reconsideration or for a hearing before an administrative law judge, the process can easily stretch out for longer than a year. It’s in your best interest to file as soon after you are disabled as possible to maximize your benefits.

Provide All The Required Documentation

The SSA requires that you submit the following information with the initial application:

Your social security number
Your birth certificate
The names, addresses, and phone numbers of all doctors, caseworkers, hospitals, and clinics that have seen you about your condition
The names and dosages of all medications you take
Medical records from all your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics, and caseworkers
Laboratory and test results
Your work history and a summary of the kind of work you performed
A copy of your most recent W-2 or federal tax return

Failure to include all the necessary documentation will likely result in denial, and at best, it will delay processing of your application.

If Your Application Has Been Denied, Legal Representation May Help

If you’ve already applied, but your application was denied, rest assured, that’s not the end of the line. Only about 25 percent of applications are approved on the initial application. Approximately 2 percent are approved on reconsideration, and 11 percent are approved at hearings before an administrative law judge. Beyond that, you can appeal to the Appeals Council of the SSA, and from there, appeal to a federal court. An experienced social security disability attorney will be able to zealously represent you at the various appellate levels and craft convincing arguments for your disability beyond simply what the medical records say.