Every year, around half of all applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have their applications denied. Often, these denials are the result of preventable issues, meaning you can increase your chances of approval by making sure you follow a few simple steps. Here are just some of the ways you can improve your chances of being approved for SSDI or SSI benefits:
- Double check to make sure your application is accurate and complete
- It may sound silly, but simply taking time to double check your application before you submit it is essential for improving your chances of being approved for SSDI or SSI. By far the most common reason that applications get denied is due to simple paperwork errors. Taking the time to ensure everything is correct and complete will, therefore, get you over one of the first major hurdles you may face.
- Make sure you have furnished any necessary medical or financial evidence
- Applying for SSDI or SSI may require you to furnish certain types of medical or financial evidence. For medical evidence, that usually means records of diagnosis and treatment from your doctor, as well as any records from hospitals you spent time at. For financial evidence, it may include records of employment and income, as well as records of personal expenses and assets.
- Always follow your doctor’s advice
- One commonly overlooked factor is that you can be disqualified from obtaining SSDI or SSI benefits if you have a disability but failed to follow your doctor’s orders after getting treatment. This is because Social Security disability benefits are meant for people whose disabilities cannot manage their disabilities through regular medical care. Thus, it is in your best interests to follow your doctor’s orders and go through any treatment or procedure they recommend.
- Return any calls or messages from the SSA
- If the Social Security Administration (SSA) needs you to correct anything about your application, such as sending in more documentation, they will call you or otherwise attempt to message you. It is important if you want to be approved for SSDI or SSI to return these calls or messages as soon as possible. If you wait too long, they may deny your claim for failing to respond.
- Hire a lawyer with experience handling SSDI and SSI applications
- Ultimately, if any issues come up with your application, you will not be able to handle it yourself. This is why you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling SSDI and SSI applications. They can help you through the process and give you the best chances possible of being approved for SSDI or SSI.
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.
