Is There A Way To Get Automatically Approved For SSI And Social Security Disability?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

There is no “automatic” way to get approved for SSI and Social Security disability, though there are disability claims that are approved more quickly than others. Social Security uses the same medical disability process to evaluate all disability claims.

Most disability claims take some time to receive a disability approval; yet, there are some situations that allow for a quick approval for SSI and/or Social Security disability benefits. For example, if a person files a disability claim on the basis that they have a terminal illness, Social Security has an expedited evaluation process.

In most cases, disability claims that involve a terminal illness are processed in thirty days or less. Of course, even these disability claims must have medical evidence that supports that the individual has a terminal illness, which means that Social Security must secure objective medical evidence to support the disability applicant’s allegation of a terminal illness. Disability claims that involve a terminal illness are the closest to an automatic approval that the Social Security or SSI disability programs have.

Still, some disability claims can be receive an approval for disability quickly, if they meet or equal the criteria of an impairment listing contained in the Social Security disability handbook. All disability examiners use the disability handbook, “Disability Evaluation Under Social Security”, to evaluate medical evidence for their disability decisions. If a person has a medical condition that is so severe that it meets or equals the severity requirements of an impairment listing, they will be approved medically for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income disability (I say medically approved because all disability applicants must still meet the non-disability requirements of SSI and/or Social Security disability).

Most disability applicants do not meet or equal an impairment listing nor are they terminal, which of course means that the disability process can often be lengthy in addition to being far less than automatic. How lengthy? If a person has to appeal their claim it could months to receive a decision that may not even be an approval.

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Individual Questions and Answers

How to File for SSI

When you file for disability and have both Mental and Physical Conditions

The chances of winning a social security hearing for disability benefits?

What to Do After You Apply for Disability

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Appearing at the ALJ Hearing for Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits

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The Psychologist Exam for Social Security Disability and SSI Claims

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Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Florida

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How Does A Social Security Disability Examiner Work to Determine a Person’s State of Health?

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Do you get medical health care coverage with SSI ?

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Medical Source Statement for Social Security Disability or SSI

What is a Social Security Disability SSI Durational Denial?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials