How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits and Get Approved

If you have worked and paid enough quarters into the Social Security System and are now disabled from working, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. In order to be eligible, you must have worked in at least 5 out of the 10 years before your disability started and meet a total number of years of work in addition to this requirement. If you are a younger worker, you will need less years of work. If you do not have sufficient years of work, you may qualify for SSI benefits. If you meet the work requirements, you must be found to have a disability which currently prevents you from working and is expected to last at least a year or is a terminal illness. Applying for Social Security Disability can be a long and frustrating experience. As a former Social Security employee, I can give you advice to speed up the process and get a quick decision on your claim.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 
    

   CONTACT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BY PHONE TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY OR SSI. Call the toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to check your work record to see if you are eligible. If you are, you can set up an appointment by telephone or in person at a local office. If possible, set up an in person appointment. This is a better way to file for benefits because the SSA claims rep will enter your information into the computer system immediately and will send your claim for a decision the same day. If you file a claim by phone, it will take time for SSA to receive your paperwork and since they are understaffed, your forms could sit on someone's desk for weeks or months.

2. 
    

   IF NO APPOINTMENT IS AVAILABLE WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO, ASK IF YOUR LOCAL OFFICE ACCEPTS WALK INS. If no, make an appointment. If yes, ask the 1-800 number to mail you medical forms and go into the local office at the time that it opens. If you go any later, you will have a long wait.

3. 
    

   COMPLETE THE MEDICAL REPORT FORM PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT. The Medical Report is critical to getting a quick decision on your claim. You need complete and accurate names, addresses and phone numbers of all doctors, hospitals or other medical facilities that you have been to within the past year. You also need to give thorough complete answers to the questions asked. Be very specific about how your disability prevents you from working.

4. 
    

   GET MEDICAL RECORDS FROM YOUR DOCTORS. Get as many medical records from your doctors and hospitals as possible including results of any lab tests, xrays or other procedures. Stress to your doctor that you need these records immediately. This is the Number 1 thing you can do to speed up the process.

5. 
    

   CONTACT YOUR DOCTORS OFFICES AND TELL THEIR STAFF THAT YOU ARE APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY. Let them know that even if they have supplied records to you, SSA may contact them to fill out forms or request additional information. Tell them now important it is for them to complete any requests promptly and send them in.

6. FOLLOW UP ON YOUR DISABILITY CLAIM. Call your local Social Security Office once every two weeks to get a status on your claim. Ask them if they need any additional information. Ask them for the phone number of the office that makes the disability decision. (This decision is not made at your local office. It is made by the state Disability Determination Service.) Call this office and ask them for a status. Ask if you can assist them in obtaining any records. Do not worry about being a pest. You have to be proactive to get your claim moving to a quick decision.

7. 
    

   ATTEND A CONSULTATIVE APPOINTMENT IF ONE IS MADE FOR YOU. If Social Security needs more information on your claim, they may schedule a doctor's appointment for you with a doctor that they choose. It is important that you attend this appointment or they could deny your claim.

8. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO HANDLE YOUR OWN BENEFITS IF YOUR CLAIM IS APPROVED DUE TO A MENTAL IMPAIRMENT, HAVE SOMEONE FILE TO BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE.
   If your Social Security disability claim is approved and they do not feel you are capable to handle your benefits, they will ask you to have a relative or close friend file as your representative payee to receive your benefits for you. If you take care of this at the time you file your initial claim, your benefits will not be delayed.

9. ASK A RELATIVE OR FRIEND TO ASSIST YOU WITH YOUR CLAIM. If possible, have them go into the Social Security office with you to help you answer questions and to listen to what the representative tells you.

10. 
     

    APPEAL YOUR CLAIM IF DENIED. If your disability claim is denied, call Social Security at the 1-800 number above to file an appeal (a reconsideration). Ask them to send you appeal forms. Complete the forms and take them in person into the office. If you can't take them in, have a friend take them in. If at all possible, do not mail these forms in as they could sit on someone's desk for months.

11. 
     

    FILE A HEARING AND HIRE AN ATTORNEY. If your reconsideration is denied, file for a hearing. Many disability claims are not approved until the hearing level.
    You may want to hire an attorney for the hearing level.

Tips & Warnings

• Be persistant and do not give up on your claim. You worked for years and paid into the system and need these benefits. Even if you are denied at all levels, you can still file a new claim.
• Get further information at www.ssa.gov.

[kims3003]

on 11/20/2009 VERY WELL DONE AND THOUGHT OUT ARTICLE. LIKE THE PICS TOO