Important Details: Information that can Make or Break your Social Security Disability Application

Applying for disability benefits for the first time can be a complex process. Trying to accumulate the right information and complete all the forms required on time is difficult on your own. Mistakes happen — and when the Social Security Administration gets a hold of the application — those seemingly tiny errors may lead to a swift rejection. Here’s what our disability lawyers do for every client to catch the small slip-ups before they balloon into the kind of full-fledged problems that can undermine their efforts to win clients the benefits they’re entitled to under the law.

Listing all Known Physical and Mental Impairments

Regardless of how you perceive their relevance to your current disability, examiners still want to review medical documentation of every physical and mental impairment you may be dealing with currently. The complete medical perspective is necessary to create an accurate picture of your functional capacity and how your current condition may affect you going forward. You’ll need to include medical documentation detailing when the impairments began and the impact they’ve had on your ability to work. Failing to do so could lead to a prompt rejection of the claim for benefits.

Failing to Provide Current Medical Records

Outdated medical records won’t help you or anyone else obtain disability through the federal government. Your claim needs current medical records and treatment documentation from your treating physician who has seen you recently — preferably within the last six months. This paperwork can be the single strongest piece of evidence in having your application approved or denied. If you don’t provide up-to-date records, the SSA may require you to attend an independent medical exam to determine your level of functional capacity. If you’d like to receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, you’ll need to attend that appointment and cooperate. Ducking out on the good doctor, in this case, isn’t wise, because it could signal you’re not being truthful about the nature of your injury or illness.

Sufficient Work History to Qualify

SSDI is not an entitlement program, meaning that you don’t simply qualify for this benefit because of a low income. In fact, earning a taxable wage over a number of years is necessary to qualify. You pay into the system so you can withdraw funds when an injury or illness prevents you from providing for yourself. If you haven’t worked a sufficient number of years to obtain the requisite work credits — and aren’t a dependent child of an eligible parent —  the chances of you qualifying for SSDI are slim. A thorough review of your claim and situation from our experienced legal team can provide a clearer picture of your application’s strengths and weaknesses.

If you have questions about your Social Security Disability application, contact our law offices today. Our attorneys have helped thousands recover the benefits they deserve and won crucial appeals for those who have received first-time denials. Call today for a free consultation, and remember, if we don’t win money for you, then you don’t owe us a dime.