Social Security Disability can be a financial lifesaver in your time of need. These benefits can help you pay for necessary medical care while also providing you with some financial stability when you’re unable to work and earn a wage.
But before heading into the disability claims process, you need to not only understand the process, but also the reasons why the government often denies these claims. After all, the denial rate for disability claims is high, and if you’re not diligent you could end up missing out on the financial support that you need.
Why are Social Security Disability claims denied?
There are several reasons why the government denies disability claims. If you want to maximize your chances of recovering the benefits that you need and deserve, then be sure to avoid these common denial justifications:
- Insufficient medical evidence: To meet the federal definition of “disabled” and thereby qualify for disability benefits, you have to present evidence that shows how your medical condition fits into the confines established by law. Each qualifying medical condition has its own requirements that must be met to be deemed “disabling,” so you’ll want to carefully read through those requirements and gather sufficient evidence to prove them. Your medical records can be helpful here, but you’ll also want to get opinions from your healthcare providers and seek any follow up treatment and testing that’s recommended.
- Lack of follow through: When your doctor makes recommendations for treatment or testing, you need to adhere to them. If you don’t follow through on those recommendations, then you the government will claim that there’s no way to know if you meet the definition of “disabled” since you’ve missed treatment or failed to undergo proper testing. This, in turn, will most likely result in a claim denial.
- Too much income: Social Security Disability benefits are meant to support those who are unable to work. If you continue to work despite your medical condition, then you could blow past the income limits for disability benefits recipients, thereby resulting in denial.
- Not enough work history: To qualify for disability benefits, you have to demonstrate that you’ve worked for a certain period of time. If you haven’t worked, or it’s been a really long time since you’ve held a job for a significant period of time, then you might be at risk of having your claim denied.
What should you do if your claim is denied?
Fortunately, an initial claim denial isn’t the end of the road. You have appellate options, and many claimants are successful on appeal once they submit additional evidence to the government. However, the appellate process can tack time on to an already long claims process, so you should head off any denial justifications early on if you can.
Confidently present your Social Security Disability claim
A successful disability claim can provide you with the financial relief that you need. If you’re feeling nervous about the process, don’t worry. There are resources out there to guide you along the way, and you can seek out any additional support that you may need.
As you prepare your claim, focus on being thorough and persuasive. Seek out the evidence you need to speak to the denial justifications mentioned above and consult with the disability blue book so that you know how your condition qualifies you for benefits. Hopefully then you’ll feel confident moving forward with your claim and will be strongly positioned to recover the benefits that you need.
