Why was I denied social security disability?

It is easy to blame an outdated system and backlogged claims on the amount of Social Security disability denials. It is also easy to blame a lack of SSA funding and a lack of administrative judges and disability examiners on the high amount of denials. While all of these issues are part of the problem, the most common reason for a disability denial of an initial claim is the lack of proper medical documentation.

On top of that, the second most common reason SSA claimants are not approved is their lack of knowledge about the social security appeals process, or an unwillingness to appeal their denial and ask for reconsideration in a timely manner. While it may seem the system is against you when you receive your denial, chances are that you can take steps to make the social security disability approval process much easier and quicker.

No matter what the many ‘issues’ with the Social Security administration system are, all cases are decided on medical evidence. This means you will need to provide 100 percent accurate medical documentation, make sure that your medical records are delivered to your disability examiner and also, make sure that your doctor has provided all information in your medical records that will be needed to make an approval. This means they will need to document your disability and provide clear outlines of what you can or cannot do because of your disability.

If you have experienced issues in receiving quality, routine care for your disability you might want to take advantage of free clinics, the emergency room, or sliding scale physicians. Without proper medical documentation your case cannot be approved. Making sure that you have supplied your disability examiner with everything they need to make a decision can help your case move along at a faster rate. Consider calling your examiner to ask them if they need anything else from you. It may seem like a lot of extra work to make calls and gather medical records and documentation, but it may save you months or even years of waiting.

If you initial claim has been denied (and nearly 70 percent are) the next thing you need to do is file a disability appeal. An unawareness of this process or simple procrastination can cause your case to be pushed back months or even years. If you do not file your appeal within 60 days of receiving your denial you will have to start the process all over again at the beginning: a new claim. If, however, you do file an appeal for reconsideration, you may be among the 15 percent that are approved at this level.

If your initial claim has been denied and your appeal for reconsideration has also been denied, you will need to file a second appeal. While all of the time and paperwork for appeals can be frustrating, over 60 percent of claimants that appeal a second time are approved, so do not give up.

Denials can be frustrating and stressful, especially when you are without an income and trying to pay medical bills. It may make you feel like giving up. Regardless, keep pressing on. Making sure you provide proper medical documentation and keeping a timely, close watch on your appeals process can make all the difference in the world.



For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center