How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits

To apply for Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits, you need to gather your medical information, fill out the application, submit requested additional information, and then await a decision. If your application is denied, you can file an appeal for reconsideration. 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a very high rejection rate for SSDI applications, which is why you need to be as thorough as possible. A Social Security Disability lawyer from Wettermark Keith can guide you through the whole process from beginning to end. 

1. Gather Medical and Work Information

SSDI is based on your level of disability and your work history, so you’ll need to provide exhaustive documentation of both. On the medical side, you need a full accounting of your condition, which includes copies of things like:

• Diagnostic tests
• Functional capacity evaluations
• Imaging results
• Doctor’s notes
• Patient filed
• Lad results
• Treatment histories
• Notes on follow-up care
• List of prescription medications

On the employment side, you need documentation of your earnings and employment history, such as:

• Pay stubs
• Tax returns
• Description of job duties
• Employment limitations due to injuries

A lawyer from Wettermark Keith can help you organize this documentation as you begin the process to apply for Social Security disability benefits. We’re here to ensure you aren’t leaving out important details. 

2. Submit Your Application

Once you have your information organized, you need to fill out the SSDI application either on the SSA’s website or in person at an SSA office. If you apply online, you’ll first be required to make an SSA account where you can track the status of your application. 

The application itself is Form SSA-16, which consists of 25 questions concerning your personal details, citizenship, marital status, children, and income/earnings. There is also a separate box for adding any remarks or additional details you deem relevant to your application.

When you submit the basic application, you’ll also submit all your supporting documents, like medical records and income statements. The team at Wettermark Keith can help you keep all these documents organized.

3. Provide Additional Requested Information

In some cases, the SSA might request additional information regarding your employment or disability. This may be the case if you are self-employed and the SSA needs more documentation to verify your income and work history. You may also need to submit additional documents regarding physical impairments and work restrictions. 

You might also be required to attend a medical examination. During an examination, a medical expert from the SSA will evaluate your functional ability and capacity to work. 

4. Receive Decision

The next step is to wait for a decision on your application. Decision times typically range between six and eight months, but you could end up waiting longer. In either case, there is a five-month waiting period between when the SSA determines your disability began and when you’ll start receiving benefits. 

5. Appeal Process

If your application is denied, a lawyer from Wettermark Keith can help you appeal the decision. There are four levels of appeals, the first being to request a reconsideration. If a reconsideration is denied, you can appeal to a hearing with an administrative law judge. If you receive a denial in the hearing, you can request a further review of the hearing decision. 

If your hearing also results in a denial, you can escalate the appeal to a federal district court. This is the highest level of appeal for denied SSDI applications. 

Common Mistakes When Applying for SSD Benefits

Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits requires you to dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s. Below are some common mistakes that can result in your application being denied:

• Leaving blank spots on forms. You need to fill out every field on the application and not leave any blank. If some questions don’t apply to you, put “N/A” in the field rather than leaving it blank. 
• Using incorrect information. Double and triple check all information used in the application, including medical information like your doctor and diagnosis. 
• Not providing medical proof. Disability claims require extensive and exhaustive proof of your medical condition. You need records of your initial diagnosis as well as records of treatment and follow-up appointments. 
• Not following treatment. Medical examiners for the SSA will determine whether you’ve been following treatment plans for your disability. Not following treatment can result in your application being denied. 
• Exaggerating or lying on application. You should never lie about or exaggerate your symptoms or degree of disability. The SSA is extremely thorough and will deny your application if it thinks you are being dishonest. 
• Not submitting requested info. Depending on the circumstances, the SSA may request additional information about your condition. You need to respond to these requests in a timely manner or risk rejection. 
• Not working with a lawyer. A lawyer from Wettermark Keith can give you an advantage during the application process and reduce the risks of denials. 

Learn More About Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits By Contacting Wettermark Keith

Do you have more questions or would like guidance on applying for SSDI benefits? If so, contact the team at Wettermark Keith to speak to a Social Security lawyer. We can help you with both the initial application and appealing application denials.