If you are either disabled to the extent that you cannot work at all or have a condition which renders you unable to work full time, you might want to think about applying for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits. This program pays a monthly benefit to people who have spent at least a certain amount of time working and have paid into the social security system who have become disabled due to an injury or illness. You may meet these criteria, but this itself is no guarantee that you will be approved to receive benefits. A lot of people have spent a few years in the approval and appeals process before having their applications approved. While it does take time to start receiving benefits, there are a few things you can do to make it happen more quickly.
There is a lot of paperwork involved in applying for SSDI benefits and while you can start the process online, you will have paperwork sent to you to complete by the Social Security Administration to complete in either case. The forms you will be asked to fill out will ask you to provide more details on the information you have given online. You will also need to inform your physician about the fact that you are applying for SSDI benefits, since they will need to provide you with statements and other documentation to prove that you cannot work as a result of your disabling injury or illness.
Secondly, fill out your application carefully and legibly. If you do not have a clear handwriting or printing, ask a friend or family member to help you. You need to fill out all sections and make sure you are as detailed as possible. Your application is going to be read by one or more people in the process, so keep this is mind when you are filling out the application. Be thorough because the more information you give to the Social Security Administration, the better for you. If they cannot read your writing or you are vague in your answers, such as "it hurts when I sit" they will most likely deny you.
In addition, do not discount the importance of your past work history. This is crucial in the SSA's determination of your ability to work. You need to give at least 15 years of detailed work experience because this helps SSA to see if you have skills that can be transferable to another area. You need to include the type of work you did, your job titles, and give accurate dates of your employment at each company.
You should also include information on any Workers Compensation claims you may have filed in the past, including the claim number and the dates you were covered by benefits under this program. You will also need to provide information on your family, including any previous spouses if you have been divorced. If your application is complete and you provide thorough supporting documentation, it is possible that your application will be approved on the first try, although this is relatively rare. At the same time, many people have their applications denied because their initial applications were not properly filled out, so it pays to be thorough and careful.
There is a lot of paperwork involved in applying for SSDI benefits and while you can start the process online, you will have paperwork sent to you to complete by the Social Security Administration to complete in either case. The forms you will be asked to fill out will ask you to provide more details on the information you have given online. You will also need to inform your physician about the fact that you are applying for SSDI benefits, since they will need to provide you with statements and other documentation to prove that you cannot work as a result of your disabling injury or illness.
Secondly, fill out your application carefully and legibly. If you do not have a clear handwriting or printing, ask a friend or family member to help you. You need to fill out all sections and make sure you are as detailed as possible. Your application is going to be read by one or more people in the process, so keep this is mind when you are filling out the application. Be thorough because the more information you give to the Social Security Administration, the better for you. If they cannot read your writing or you are vague in your answers, such as "it hurts when I sit" they will most likely deny you.
In addition, do not discount the importance of your past work history. This is crucial in the SSA's determination of your ability to work. You need to give at least 15 years of detailed work experience because this helps SSA to see if you have skills that can be transferable to another area. You need to include the type of work you did, your job titles, and give accurate dates of your employment at each company.
You should also include information on any Workers Compensation claims you may have filed in the past, including the claim number and the dates you were covered by benefits under this program. You will also need to provide information on your family, including any previous spouses if you have been divorced. If your application is complete and you provide thorough supporting documentation, it is possible that your application will be approved on the first try, although this is relatively rare. At the same time, many people have their applications denied because their initial applications were not properly filled out, so it pays to be thorough and careful.
About the Author:
If you've been denied Social Security benefits, speak with a Social Security disability attorney. Social Security disability attorneys only charge a fee if they win your case, so there's no risk.
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