How to Claim Disability Benefits
The process of claiming disability benefits is pretty straightforward, regardless of if you are eligible for SSD (social security disability), SSI (supplemental security income), or both.
The first step is to call your local social security office and tell them that you want to file for disability. The social security administration (SSA) will schedule an appointment for you with a claims representative, and the interview can be conducted either in person or over the phone. Do not concern yourself at this point with which program you are eligible for (SSD or SSI)—social security determines that for you based on information you give them about your work history, total assets, etc. You will then be given forms to fill out, which will be passed on to a disability examiner at your state disability determination services (DDS), the agency that makes all disability decisions for the SSA.
The disability examiner will either approve or deny your claim based on the information in your medical records, so it’s very important to take your time compiling your medical history. This may seem tedious, especially when it comes to getting all of the correct names, addresses, and phone numbers for all of your treating physicians, and for any medical facility at which you have received treatment for your condition. However, if your medical history doesn’t include everything you can think of that might help a disability examiner understand all of your current limitations, you may be setting yourself up for an unfavorable outcome.
Other types of information that should be included in your medical history are dates of treatment, the results of any additional testing you have had performed, such as MRIs, CTs, Mental Exams, X-rays, etc. If you have collected any of your medical records yourself, or if you have any statements from your physician that support your claim for disability, send those in with your disability application as well.
After receiving all of your medical information, it takes (on average) about 3 months to receive a decision on your claim. However, it could take more or less time, depending on case backlogs in your area. If you have a disability attorney, he or she can call DDS to check on your claim periodically, and to help ensure that everything in your file is in order.
Keep in mind that a minority of initial applications for SSD/SSI are successful. Less than a third of them are approved, which means that most people that file for disability will have to file at least one appeal with DDS if they intend to continue their claim. At the appeal level, and in particular if a disability hearing is scheduled, it is a good idea to have a legal representative, either a disability lawyer or non-attorney rep, to help you claim disability benefits.
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The first step is to call your local social security office and tell them that you want to file for disability. The social security administration (SSA) will schedule an appointment for you with a claims representative, and the interview can be conducted either in person or over the phone. Do not concern yourself at this point with which program you are eligible for (SSD or SSI)—social security determines that for you based on information you give them about your work history, total assets, etc. You will then be given forms to fill out, which will be passed on to a disability examiner at your state disability determination services (DDS), the agency that makes all disability decisions for the SSA.
The disability examiner will either approve or deny your claim based on the information in your medical records, so it’s very important to take your time compiling your medical history. This may seem tedious, especially when it comes to getting all of the correct names, addresses, and phone numbers for all of your treating physicians, and for any medical facility at which you have received treatment for your condition. However, if your medical history doesn’t include everything you can think of that might help a disability examiner understand all of your current limitations, you may be setting yourself up for an unfavorable outcome.
Other types of information that should be included in your medical history are dates of treatment, the results of any additional testing you have had performed, such as MRIs, CTs, Mental Exams, X-rays, etc. If you have collected any of your medical records yourself, or if you have any statements from your physician that support your claim for disability, send those in with your disability application as well.
After receiving all of your medical information, it takes (on average) about 3 months to receive a decision on your claim. However, it could take more or less time, depending on case backlogs in your area. If you have a disability attorney, he or she can call DDS to check on your claim periodically, and to help ensure that everything in your file is in order.
Keep in mind that a minority of initial applications for SSD/SSI are successful. Less than a third of them are approved, which means that most people that file for disability will have to file at least one appeal with DDS if they intend to continue their claim. At the appeal level, and in particular if a disability hearing is scheduled, it is a good idea to have a legal representative, either a disability lawyer or non-attorney rep, to help you claim disability benefits.
Return to:
Additional Posts
Social security disability lawyers
Does my condition qualify for disability?
Social security disability requirements
Florida Disability
Degenerative disc disease
Winning disability - how to win a social security disability claim
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