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


Social Security Disability Status


How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits


 
Once you have filed your disability claim, your disability claim is sent to a state disability processing agency for a medical disability decision. When your disability claim reaches the state agency (DDS, disability determination services), it will be assigned to a disability examiner for development.

The examiner’s first priority will be to request your medical records from the treatment sources you listed when you filed your application for disability.

It takes time to request and receive medical records from the medical sources you provided at your disability application interview. The wait for records typically constitutes the biggest part of the wait time for a decision on a disability case.

If you have not heard anything about your disability claim for some time, it is not unreasonable for you to check the status of your disability claim. Generally, thirty days or so would be a good length of time to wait before calling for a status on your disability claim.

Note: after your case has been transferred from the social security office where you applied to the disability determination services agency, there is no longer any point in contacting the social security office for your disability status. They will ordinarily only be able to tell you that no decision has been made yet.

Calling the disability determination services agency, however, will allow you to speak with the examiner working on your case and, in so doing, you may find out what information they are still waiting on, or possibly update the examiner as to your medical condition. It is not unusual for cases to move faster after a claimant has spoken to their disability examiner.

Having said this, if you have not heard anything for several weeks there should be no reason to worry. The fact that you have not heard from Social Security or the state disability agency for some length of time does not mean they are not working on your disability claim. It may just be that they are still waiting for medical records from your medical treatment sources, which is usually the case.

If you call DDS (you can get the number for DDS from the social security office where you applied), they will be able to tell you if they are still working on your claim or if a decision has been made on your disability claim. If they are still working on your claim, you can get the name and number of the disability examiner who is working on your disability claim.

As previously stated, the disability examiner may need additional information from you or need your help getting necessary medical records from one of your medical sources. Calling for a Social Security disability status may actually expedite your disability decision.

Why it’s important to check the status of your claim—and what can potentially happen if you don’t

It is always wise to check the status of your Social Security disability claim periodically to make sure a decision has not been made. Sometimes disability claim decisional notices get lost in the mail. If you wait six months to check the status of your disability claim you may lose the chance to appeal your disability denial if your decisional notice was lost in the mail.

This brings to mind another important reminder. Make sure that you notify Social Security of any address changes promptly. If Social Security does not have a correct mailing address, you may not only not receive your decisional notice; you may even cause your disability claim to be denied. Your disability claim can be denied for failure to cooperate if Social Security cannot contact you to get information or to schedule necessary consultative examinations.

If you have a disability attorney or non-attorney disability representative, you should not have to worry about the status of your disability claim. Your representative will be notified of your disability claim decision. If it is a denial they should file your appeals for you.

Again, it is still important that you notify your representative, as well as, Social Security if you have an address changes. If the disability examiner working on your disability claim cannot reach you they will contact your representative for your contact information.















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Individual Questions and Answers


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

  • What is a Social Security Disability Denial based on?

  • What to do (forms to complete) if you receive a Denial on a Social Security Disability or SSI Case?

  • Can You Avoid Being Denied on a Social Security Disability Claim?

  • Why Will A Social Security Disability Application Get Denied? (SSDI Denial)

  • Denied For Social Security Disability Because I Can Work -- What are my Options?

  • The Social Security Disability Denial Letter

  • Filing for SSI Disability

  • What are the Odds or Chances of Being Approved for Disability?

  • Who handles my case if I apply for Social Security disability ?

  • How can you speed up a Social Security Disability case?

  • Will a Social Security Judge give You an Immediate Decision at the Disability Hearing?

  • Question about when Social Security Disability Benefits began (date of onset)

  • SSI Disability Application Wait Time

  • What Benefits come with SSI Disability?

  • How to get Approved for Disability on the Basis of a Back Condition

  • Will Social Security Follow The Opinion Of my Doctor And Approve My Disability Claim?

  • After I File For Disability Will Social Security Pay For Me To See A Doctor?

  • Can I get SSI for RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis?

  • How Do I Find Out How My Disability Appeal Is Going?

  • What Income Will Affect Your Disability Benefits?

  • Is multiple sclerosis considered a disability by Social Security?

  • How to Qualify for Disability - How severe must a condition be?

  • Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Michigan

  • Does social security contact your former work employers when you file for disability?

  • What is the Process to be Approved for SSD or SSI Disability Benefits?

  • What does a Disability Denial Letter from Social Security say?

  • Applying for disability benefits in New York

  • Depression, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

  • Being Determined Medically Disabled for Social Security Disability

  • Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression?
























    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