If you’ve heard horror stories about Social Security Disability and the difficult process of obtaining it, you’re not alone. Many people have heard and seen the reality of SSD and how difficult it is to get approved.
What many people don’t realize is that there are attorneys who specialize in helping people who are applying for or appealing decisions made about their Social Security Disability benefits. Claims can be extremely complicated, which is why it’s important to work with an attorney.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits is complex
To start with, you should know that most SSD applications are made online. To submit an application, you will need information such as:
- The names and birth dates of your spouse and any minor children in your home
- Military discharge information for any active duty periods you were involved in
- The dates of all marriages and divorces you’ve been part of
- Banking information and routing numbers if you’d like your benefits deposited directly
- W-2s or 1040s for the previous year
- Prescription medication lists
- Lists of any jobs you’ve had in the last 15 years prior to your disability
- Information about past workers’ compensation claims or insurance claims
- Names and contact information for anyone who can discuss your medical condition with the Social Security Administration
- Medical records, including relevant treatment dates
- The dates of medical tests and names of referring doctors
You may need more information than this, which is why you’ll want to speak with your attorney before starting the process of applying for Social Security Disability.
Were your benefits denied?
Another good reason to work with your attorney is if you’ve had an application for SSD denied. Social Security benefit denials are not uncommon, and you can appeal. However, appealing takes many months (and sometimes years), so you’ll want to make sure it’s done right to give you the best chance of success.
Your attorney will review the reason for the denial and help you understand what you need to do to make your application stronger. You may need further medical information, to fill out blank sections of your application or simply provide additional information of another kind.
Getting Social Security Disability benefits isn’t always as easy as it should be, and many people are denied unfairly. Working with an attorney gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you’ve done everything you can to submit the right documents in a timely manner to the Social Security Administration.
