Published on: October 20, 2014
When it comes to applying for disability insurance benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA), there is a myriad of small factors and documentation that all play a role in the ultimate success ofyour application. These factors must all be accounted for to ensure that you have the maximum chance of being successful on your application.
Often, the biggest challenge with getting disability benefits through the SSA is managing the evidence, work documents and treatment paperwork necessary to support your disability claim. Fortunately, there are disability experts available in your area to help you handle these processes, and improve your chances of bringing your case to a successful conclusion.
In this blog article, we’ll bring to light 5 seemingly small factors that can actually play a significant part in your application for disability; factors that, if not properly dealt with, could result in a denial of benefits.
1.) The Clarity of Your Documentation
The extent, quality and conciseness of evidence documentation and records in your application for disability benefits through the SSA can directly affect your likelihood of eventually receiving benefits. Too often, we see otherwise obviously worthy applications for disability fail due to one or two missing pieces of information; this careless omission is easily avoidable with the right preparation.
When it comes to something as significant as receiving disability benefits, don’t take chances; one little mistake now, or one forgotten piece of information, can cost you your entire application down the line.
To combat this risk, we highly recommend creating a thorough record of your disability, including everything from work history information to medical treatment records, before applying; or, alternatively, having an outside professional complete this for you. Either way, preparation and thoroughness are key when applying for Social Security Disability.
2.) Your Lifetime Wages
When it comes to determining your eligibility, and the extent of your disability benefits through Social Security, the SSA typically performs two tests: the duration of work test and the recent work test. In these tests, the SSA will gauge your working history, both in a period of years leading up to your disability and your entire working lifetime.
By taking your earnings and credits toward Social Security in both the recent and long term, the SSA determines how much compensation you are eligible for under disability. To put things simply, the more you have paid into Social Security in your working history, the greater your benefits are likely to be.
3.) The Length or Nature of Your Disability
When applying for Social Security disability, the current and anticipated length of your disability can play a large role in the determination on your claim. Not all disabilities are covered by Social Security; therefore, it’s extremely helpful to know early on the extent of your condition, and its eligibility according to the SSA’s Blue Book, which catalogues all disabilities officially recognized and eligible for benefits.
For the greatest potential for success of your application, it’s important to apply as early as possible and have ample enough documentation about its severity and expected duration. Temporary condtions do not qualify an applicant for disability benefits; the condition must have lasted at least 12 months or be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
4.) The Official Source of Medical Treatment
The source of your diagnosis and treatment can have a major effect on your eligibility for disability benefits.
Treatment and diagnoses from unqualified parties are insufficeint for providing evidence of disability. The SSA will not provide benefits to a person whose medical conditions that do not meet strict requirements; one of those requirements being that their disabilityhas been documented by a certified medical treatment professional.
5.) Professional Guidance and Application Management
The critically important decision to hire a disability professional to oversee and guide your disability application can have huge implications on your ultimate eligibility for benefits.
Too often, disability applications fail due to lacking one or more pieces of important information or documenttion. Having a disability expert at your side, actively supporting and building your application, can give you the greatest potential for success in applying. Don’t risk the benefits by going for disability alone; hire a disability professional beforehand to have the best chance of getting the benefits you need.
