Rules and regulations on social security disability claims can get as complicated as ever, but did you know that about 30?40% of disability claims are approved at initial stage? Although most people may be technically entitled to social security disability claims, they still tend to fail from benefitting due to unfamiliarity to the process itself. What they don't realize is that they only need understanding and persistence to successfully achieve their goal.
Educating oneself can be a powerful tool. So if you are disabled and needs to begin application process to claim benefits, you need to equip yourself by following the following few key steps, that may help you save everything.
You have to determine which type of benefit you want to apply for.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are two types of Social Security disability programs that pay benefits. Although both these programs have similar medical requirements, SSDI however requires a certain sum of years of work to have built up some sort of credit plan.
In contrast, SSI looks more into your financial needs, regardless of whether you have worked or not in the past. Also, SSI provides benefits for children. Basically, the amount of your SSI benefits depends on both your income and your household's, which include wages earned by spouse. For you to meet the set criteria in both programs, your disability must inhibit you from working for at least 12 months, or your condition must have been terminal possibly resulting to death. For children, they must severely limit their functionality. Disability benefits have no age requirements. Fortunately, disability benefits can be automatically converted into retirement benefits once you reached the age of 65.
You must apply in person, and in the process save everything.
There can never be any alternative best way to ensure processing of your application than doing it in person, thus you save yourself time and effort from possibly doing things over. Submitting applications by phone or mail have been proven ineffective. Often your document is prone to be misplaced. When submitting in person, make sure to make copies of all signed documents, receipts, etc. included in your application. Initial processing takes about 06?90 days at the least. The filed claim is sent to your State's Disability Determination Service office for official review and assessment. This office may request you to submit some medical exam, in addition to the medical records that you have already provided.
You should not hesitate to consult a lawyer in case your claim is rejected. Normally, a significant percentage of Social Security Disability claims get rejected on the initial attempt, thus a lawyer familiar with the Social Security Disability law can be very useful.
Surely, processing for your Social Security Disability benefit claims can certainly become that difficult and complicated, as it requires your time, effort, and even money. But everything is worth the effort.