 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
What is the Process to be Approved for SSD or SSI Disability Benefits?How to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits The social security disability process is a multi-level one. It starts with the claimant contacting the social security administration. This can take the form of the claimant initiating their disability claim through the SSA website, calling the SSA toll free line, or by contacting their local social security office. The recommended method is really to contact your nearest social security office. Why? Because the staffers at the toll free line are somewhat famous for dispensing incorrect information and the online process developed by the social security administration has flaws, such as the fact that while a bonafide social security disability claim can be started online, an SSI claim cannot. The website may give the appearance that an SSI claim is being filed, but in actuality the online process does not offer protective filing dates for SSI claims. And this is important because it gives the claimant a starting point for the payment of back pay. Additionally, contacting the local social security office makes a lot of sense since A) many claimants will have questions that the teleclaims center and the website will not be able to answer and B) in most cases when a claim is started via the teleclaims center or the website, the social security office will still need to contact the claimant to resolve an issue or gather information. And, after all, since the case will be assigned to a CR (claims representative) at the social security office, it makes perfect sense to speak with this individual from the very beginning. Contacting the social security administration is the first step. What happens next is that social security will set up an appointment time for a disability application interview. At this interview, the claimant will be asked to provide identification information (such as a birth certificate) and information regarding workman's compensation and prior military service (if these things are applicable). However, these are simply non-medical requirement issues. The most important information that the claimant will need to provide at the disability application interview will be: 1) Information regarding the claimant's work history. 2) Information regarding the claimant's medical treatment history. With regard to the claimant's work history, the claimant will not need to provide a listing of every job they have ever done, but, instead, will need to provde a listing of every job they have done in the last 15 years prior to becoming disabled. This list will only include jobs that the claimant performed long enough to learn (therefore, any job that the claimant left before completing the training period would not need to be included. With regard to the medical treatment history, the claimant should provide a list of all their medical treatment sources. This would include all their doctors and hospitals. It should also include where the facility is located, what type of treatment was provided there, what was diagnosed, and when the claimant was last seen at a particular hospital or doctor's office. Is it important for the claimant to list all older and current medical treatment sources? Yes, and this is because when the social security administration evaluates medical evidence, they are looking to determine two different things: A) Is the claimant currently disabled? Meaning in the here and now. Only current medical records can establish this. B) How far back does the disability go? Only older medical records can establish this. continued at: How are medical records and work history used to determine a social security disability claim? 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Topics and Questions 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 |