If you become unable to work for an extended period of time because of a serious health impairment, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The application process is lengthy and can take a year or more, so it's crucial that you file your claim expediently and comprehensively, with as much documentation as possible to substantiate your claim. If you qualify, SSDI will enable you to collect monthly benefits to help maintain your financial stability. And, once you are enrolled in the SSDI program, you can apply for Medicaid, which assists in covering your medical expenses.
Before you file your claim for SSDI, you should check to see if you fulfill the initial qualifications. First of all, you must be under the age of 65 to apply. You must have been unable to work for at least five consecutive months prior to filing your application. And, your disability must be expected to last at least one year, or be so serious as to be expected to result in death.
The Social Security Department utilizes a special formula to determine whether you have been working enough years to qualify for assistance. This formula takes into account your age at the time of application, and the number of years you have been working and paying into the Social Security system.
If you have not been paying into the Social Security system through active employment in the past, you are not likely to qualify for SSDI benefits. These benefits are reserved for those who have actively paid into the system through their own paychecks over their working years.
If you meet those standard qualifications, you have to submit your application along with all of your supporting documentation. You need to document your working history and past payments into the Social Security system, as well as your debilitating medical condition. For your working history any or all of the following will suffice: income tax papers for previous years, proof of income such as paycheck stubs, and any other proof you have that you have paid into the system in the past. As for proving your medical disability, you need to collect information regarding your doctor's appointments, therapies undergone, testing results, prescriptions, hospital bills, and diagnosis papers from your doctor. The more documentation you can provide, the better your chances of being approved for disability payments.
The Social Security department has a list of impairments that they consider debilitating, and some of them are grounds for immediate award of payments. Your condition will be checked to see if it is on the list if you have provided enough documentation to prove your condition.
Even if your disability is on that list, you are not guaranteed to receive benefits. Social Security personnel have to go through your documentation and determine whether they believe you actually have the disability and that it is severe enough for complete disability.
Applications are now received through the Internet, but you also have the option of bringing all of your documentation to your local Social Security office.
Because of a backlog of applications, it will take a minimum of 90 days and as long as one year for your claim to be reviewed. Statistically, most claims are denied the first time around. In this case, you can ask for a reconsideration of your application. If the reconsideration of your case is the same, i.e. you're denied again, you can file an appeal. The appeals process can take as long as your initial claim, 90 days or more.
At the point where it's necessary to file an appeal, many people hire a disability attorney to assist them with their claim. Hiring an attorney who specializes in the field of disability law can help you in obtaining a positive outcome in your claim for SSDI benefits.
Before you file your claim for SSDI, you should check to see if you fulfill the initial qualifications. First of all, you must be under the age of 65 to apply. You must have been unable to work for at least five consecutive months prior to filing your application. And, your disability must be expected to last at least one year, or be so serious as to be expected to result in death.
The Social Security Department utilizes a special formula to determine whether you have been working enough years to qualify for assistance. This formula takes into account your age at the time of application, and the number of years you have been working and paying into the Social Security system.
If you have not been paying into the Social Security system through active employment in the past, you are not likely to qualify for SSDI benefits. These benefits are reserved for those who have actively paid into the system through their own paychecks over their working years.
If you meet those standard qualifications, you have to submit your application along with all of your supporting documentation. You need to document your working history and past payments into the Social Security system, as well as your debilitating medical condition. For your working history any or all of the following will suffice: income tax papers for previous years, proof of income such as paycheck stubs, and any other proof you have that you have paid into the system in the past. As for proving your medical disability, you need to collect information regarding your doctor's appointments, therapies undergone, testing results, prescriptions, hospital bills, and diagnosis papers from your doctor. The more documentation you can provide, the better your chances of being approved for disability payments.
The Social Security department has a list of impairments that they consider debilitating, and some of them are grounds for immediate award of payments. Your condition will be checked to see if it is on the list if you have provided enough documentation to prove your condition.
Even if your disability is on that list, you are not guaranteed to receive benefits. Social Security personnel have to go through your documentation and determine whether they believe you actually have the disability and that it is severe enough for complete disability.
Applications are now received through the Internet, but you also have the option of bringing all of your documentation to your local Social Security office.
Because of a backlog of applications, it will take a minimum of 90 days and as long as one year for your claim to be reviewed. Statistically, most claims are denied the first time around. In this case, you can ask for a reconsideration of your application. If the reconsideration of your case is the same, i.e. you're denied again, you can file an appeal. The appeals process can take as long as your initial claim, 90 days or more.
At the point where it's necessary to file an appeal, many people hire a disability attorney to assist them with their claim. Hiring an attorney who specializes in the field of disability law can help you in obtaining a positive outcome in your claim for SSDI benefits.
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If you've been denied for Social Security benefits in Texas, consider hiring a Texas Social Security attorney. Social Security disability law firms only charge a fee if they win your case.
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