Tips for a successful Social Security disabiliity claim

Whether you are completing an application online or mailing in a paper form for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you should know that one in three applications are denied at first.

While this can be a rather daunting and disappointing statistic, here are some tips that can help you increase your chances of success.

Determine if you are eligible

When it comes to defining whether your condition is a “disability,” it’s all up to the Social Security Administration (SSA). In order to qualify for SSDI benefits, the impairment you suffered must be expected to last at least one year or result in your death. You have to be younger than retirement age and you must have paid your FICA taxes for at least half of the past decade. There are several tools online that can help you with eligibility screening.

File now

If you wait to file because you just aren’t sure if it will be worth it, you are simply draining your retirement funds and savings. An approved claim can help ease the financial burden you currently bear. It takes the SSA approximately three to six months to determine whether to approve your application. Should your claim be denied, be prepared to wait for a ruling on your appeal. It currently takes about 600 days to get a ruling on an appeal.

Keep your health insurance

While you will need to set up a budget and stick to it faithfully, you should do whatever is necessary to keep your medical insurance. Not only do you need to ensure you receive the medical care you need, having correct, detailed medical records is a must for an SSDI benefits approval.

Get help now

The sooner you find help in applying, the better chance you will have in getting your approval. There are many experienced attorneys who work diligently to get their clients the SSDI benefits they deserve.

Source: nasdaq.com, “5 Tips on Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits,” Michael Stein, April 24, 2018