WHY YOU SHOULD FILE FOR DISABILITY ASAP

You should file a claim for social security disability (SSD) or SSI as soon as your impairment (be it physical or mental) prevents you from working, or at least begins to significantly limit the amount of income you bring in. It is a common misconception that you have to be unemployed to file for disability. In fact, claimants for disability can earn up to a certain amount each month, which the social security administration refers to as SGA (substantial gainful activity).

Social security sets the SGA annually, and if you earn this amount or more each month, you should not waste time filing an application for disability, as you are not eligible for either SSD or SSI. Keep in mind that SSI also requires you to prove real financial need; if your total assets (excluding a residence and one car) are worth more than $2,000, you will not qualify for SSI.

If you are impaired and meet the above restrictions, you should file your application for disability ASAP. Do not wait even one day.

Why? Two reasons: 1) It may take several months, even years, before you actually receive a decision in your case; and 2) because if you truly have a severe, ongoing medical condition, your situation is likely to worsen over time. Pursuing a disability claim takes a lot of time and energy, especially if you have to go through the appeals process (only 30% of all initial disability applications are approved).

Unfortunately, over half of all disability claimants will have to file not one but two or more appeals before receiving a final decision in their case. This could wear down even a healthy individual, but if you start the process as soon as possible your claim could be settled before you are facing a catastrophic financial (or health) crisis.

Some people wait months, or even years to file for disability, for various reasons. Some do not like to take what they consider to be “charity”; some are in denial about the severity of their illness; some define themselves through their work and can’t imagine being unemployed, etc. There is no denying that collecting disability will not take the place of a good salary or employer insurance benefits. But, if you are truly unable to work, disability benefits could one day mean the difference between having a roof over your head and homelessness. You cannot afford to be in denial regarding the seriousness of your impairment or your financial outlook.

Even if you are still working and are just considering filing for disability in the future, you can prepare for the process by beginning to document your illness. All disability decisions are based on information contained in your medical records, so make sure you are receiving regular medical treatment for your impairment. Begin to gather the contact information (name, address, phone number) for your doctors and any medical facilities at which you have received treatment, as well as the dates of treatment.

Currently there are backlogs of cases at just about every level of the disability determination process: initial claim, reconsideration appeal, hearing, and higher-level appeals are all taking more and more time to process, which is why you should file for disability ASAP.