If you are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA), you may be confused about what you need to do. After all, the SSA rejects about half of all applications before they even get to an interview, and you definitely do not want to be one of them. Fortunately, there Here are five things you can do to give you the best chance for your application for SSDI to be accepted:
- Double check your paperwork
- The number one reason that applications for Social Security disability benefits get rejected is due to paperwork errors. This includes significant errors or omissions, forgetting to include required forms, or failing to submit necessary documentation. Before you submit your application, you should check to make sure everything is accurate and complete, to ensure you are not rejected due to preventable errors.
- Listen to your doctor
- An important part of applying for SSDI benefits is demonstrating that you have been compliant with your doctor’s prescribed treatment. This means undergoing any tests your doctor has requested, and making sure to keep up with any medication that has been prescribed or undergoing any other recommended treatments or procedures. If you do not, the SSA may disqualify you for failing to deal with an otherwise treatable medical condition.
- Keep careful records
- To qualify for SSDI, you need to both demonstrate that you have a qualifying disability, and that you have earned sufficient work credits based on the amount of work you have performed. This means you will need to submit medical records, tax information, and potentially other documents to prove you meet the requirements for the program. That is why you should always take care to have good records, which you may need to get disability benefits.
- Make sure to respond to attempts to contact you
- Submitting an incomplete or incorrect application does not necessarily mean you will be denied benefits. However, it does mean the SSA will try to get in contact with you to make sure you can submit what you need. If you fail to respond to phone calls or other attempts to contact you, your application may be denied.
- Get help from a professional
- Ultimately, one of the best things you can do to ensure you have a good chance at being approved for SSDI benefits is to hire a professional. A lawyer with experience handling SSDI claims can assist you with your application, and help argue on your behalf if you need to appeal your claim. The sooner you contact a disability benefits lawyer, the sooner they can get started on your case.
If you or a loved one need assistance applying for SSDI or SSI benefits, it is important that you seek the guidance of an experienced Social Security Disability benefits lawyer. The lawyers at Sullivan & Kehoe, LLP have over 50 years of combined experience between its attorneys and are available to you or your loved one in obtaining Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits. To schedule a consultation with our New York Social Security Disability benefits lawyers, call (631) 823-7155.
