Unfortunately, only 22% of initial benefits applications are approved. To better your chances, we will review eligibility guidelines, ways to file, how to build your case, and other vital pieces of the Social Security disability benefits process.
Tip 1: Know If You Are Eligible for Social Security Disability
The quickest way to find out if you might be eligible for benefits is to complete Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) questionnaire. In general, to qualify for the SSA’s Disability Insurance benefits program, you must have:
Worked long enough under Social Security: Depending on your age, you may need to have worked anywhere between an estimated 1.5 years to 9.5 years before you’re eligible. Have a medical condition preventing you from working: You must have limited ability to do basic work activities (lifting, standing, remembering, etc.) for at least 12 months or have a terminal condition.
Certain blind workers may only need to meet the first criterion.
Tip 2: File a Social Security Disability Application
There are two ways to apply for disability benefits: To apply locally, use the SSA’s office locator to find information on your nearest office, or call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. You’ll be able to set up an appointment to either file a claim at your Social Security office or to file a claim by phone. The office will send you a Disability Starter Kit to help you prepare for the appointment. Those deaf or hard of hearing can call its TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.
Tip 3: Keep Good Records
It’s crucial to keep your own journal of what you’re experiencing to build a case for receiving disability benefits. You can then see specialists and doctors to get signed letters from them, if possible, that attest to your condition. You can submit these documents with your application, along with other critical pieces of information like:
Names and dosages of all medications you takeNames and contact information of doctors, caseworkers, hospitals, and clinics that treated you, along with visit dates and medical records you possessLaboratory and test results
Tip 4: Be Consistent With Medical Treatment
The Disability Determination Services (DDS) team relies entirely on the evidence reported by doctors and others who have examined or treated you to determine whether your condition meets the SSA’s definition of disability. Because of this, it’s essential to be consistent with scheduling, receiving, and following up with medical treatments to give your disability examiner as complete and accurate a picture as possible of your disability as it looks today. You’re eligible for Medicare two years after you start receiving disability benefits, and then for as long as your disability meets conditions. Medicare Part A is free, but other Medicare parts, like Medicare Part B or Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C), are your responsibility.
Tip 5: Apply Early and Don’t Get Discouraged if Denied
The SSA advises that processing your application for disability benefits can take three to five months. So, it’s essential to get yours in as early as possible to start receiving your benefits faster. Only about one in five initial applications are awarded benefits, so don’t get discouraged if yours isn’t accepted on the first try. You still have four levels of appeals you can go through to try to get your benefits approved. Appeals can also take from months to over a year to schedule, so it’s another reason to start your application process right away. You can check the status of your reconsideration or hearing through your “my Social Security” account.
Tip 6: Get a Fast Answer
Under emergency circumstances, you can send a dire need letter to your local Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) to potentially expedite your hearing with an administrative law judge if you’re waiting to have yours scheduled. Dire need situations are instances where you lack and can’t obtain:
Food Medicine or medical care Shelter, including utilities that make your home uninhabitable, and imminent evictions and foreclosures
Your letter should include a detailed description and proof of your situation, such as eviction notices, copies of medical bills, and evidence of lost health coverage.
Tip 7: Be Honest With Your Claim
You are obligated to report to Social Security whenever a change happens that could affect your benefits. And if you provide false information, you could have to repay overpaid benefits and go without your benefits for six months to two years, depending on whether it’s your first violation or not.
