If you’ve been forced to leave your job because of an illness or injury, you should consider filing for disability benefits. But you may wonder, how do you get started? And what’s the first step for the procedure? If you’re interested in getting to know how to apply for disability benefits, we’ve got all the answers you need.
First Things First
If you feel that it’s more than likely that you’ll qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, then and only then should you consider applying. But applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) can be confusing for many people. Many people don’t know how to apply for disability benefits, but if you can equip yourself with the knowledge you require for approval, that’s a great place to start!
Ideally, your first step should involve a doctor to speak to about your condition. Tell the doctor about your consideration to apply for disability benefits and see if you can get any medical documentation that concerning your disability – this will help you greatly.
Also, ask your doctor if they can provide a written statement about your disability and their opinion about the depth of your medical condition. If it’s a good statement that supports your case, it will be an example of the work you can’t perform or shouldn’t perform.
The Next Step
The next step is applying for Social Security Disability benefits. This is when a good Social Security attorney can be key! Instead of being alone in your application and speaking to a representative by yourself, you will have an advocate on your side that knows the “ins and outs” of the system to make sure that your claim is as complete and strong as possible to give you the best chance of a favorable determination! If you’re hoping to appeal SSA’s rejection of your disability, Kahn & Associates can help. With Kahn & Associates, you can afford quality representation, and the best part is that we take cases on a contingency basis – meaning, we don’t get paid unless you get your disability benefits. That way, we only succeed when you succeed.
How Long Can It Take?
Putting a definite timeline on the process is a difficult job. The time frame for the process for the Initial Application usually varies between 3 and 6 months.
After the SSA is done reviewing your case, they will notify you if your case has been approved or if your application has been denied. If your case is rejected by the SSA, don’t lose hope. This doesn’t mean that you’ll never get Social Security Disability benefits. However, once an application is denied, you will only have 60 days to file an appeal. In cases like these, you should consider hiring a lawyer who is experienced in disability appeals as soon as possible!
If you’re hoping to appeal SSA’s rejection of your disability, Kahn & Associates can help. With Kahn & Associates, you can afford quality representation, and the best part is that we take cases on a contingency basis – meaning, we don’t get paid unless you get your disability benefits. That way, we only succeed when you succeed.
Benefits of Working With a Disability Lawyer
Many people think that if they have a good case, hiring an attorney is not essential. But in reality, asking an attorney to help you through the process can help you greatly. It’s vital you take into consideration that as much as 75% of the time a person applies on their own, their case is denied.
It is also essential to remember that as many as 85% (or more) of Social Security appeals are denied at the initial appeal level, so it’s clear that it is worth hiring a lawyer who will increase your chances of getting approval for your disability benefits. This is essential because the attorney will know how the SSA deals with Social Security appeals because they’ve dealt with these issues countless times.
Having the appropriate documentation is vital for a successful disability claim. A disability attorney will sift through your documentation and will make sure they are complete and accurate, and if they increase your chances of getting disability benefits. If there are any changes or amendments required, or if any documents are missing, your attorney can help. Your attorney will ensure all documentation is in your file before your initial appeal for disability benefits is sent to the SSA.
One of the most prominent reasons why a lot of disability appeals get rejected is because people don’t have the proper documentation needed for their disability case. Many people think that they know how to apply for disability benefits, when in reality, few can understand this complex procedure. If you’ve applied without a lawyer and your appeal was rejected, it’s still not too late.
You can hire a lawyer who can help you with the appeal procedure. The lawyer will make sure that your appeal is stronger than your initial case. This way, there is always a chance of winning disability benefits at the reconsideration stage (the first level of appeal) if the lawyer helps you through the process.
It is understandable that when an individual is out of work, their ability to pay for an attorney is impacted. That is why Kahn and Associates take our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not require any payment unless we are successful in securing benefits for you. Even then, the payment comes from your backed benefits and the SSA pays us directly. Either way you will pay nothing out-of-pocket for our representation!
To learn more about your rights under the Social Security Disability laws call our FREE Disability Hotline at 1-866-4-MY-SSDI (469-7734) to speak with one of our friendly disability rights advocates who, once they obtain all the required information, will evaluate your claim in 60 seconds or less. Alternatively, you can fill out our FREE Disability Case Assessment form and one of our representatives will contact you immediately.
