You’ve suffered a disability and can no longer work. This isn’t only a physical struggle. It’s also a serious financial one. You’re not only faced with the overwhelm of how you’ll pay your short-term medical bills and living expenses but must also consider the long-term impact of your disability if you can’t work. Fortunately, you may be entitled to SSDI, the government disability program administered by the Social Security Administration. The bad news is that most applicants have difficulty getting approved for these benefits. How can you get the disability benefits you deserve to have peace of mind for the future? The Philadelphia disability attorneys at Silver & Silver are here to help answer your questions.
Do You Quality for Benefits?
The last thing on most people’s minds is how difficult it can be to qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) – until they desperately need it themselves. If you are considering applying for benefits, familiarize yourself with the qualification requirements, what Social Security’s guidelines for “disability” are, and how you can prove your eligibility before beginning the application process.
Do You Have Sufficient “Work Credits?”
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you must have been employed in a job where you paid into the Social Security system and earned enough “work credits” during your employment. The number of credits required for approval will differ depending on your age at the time of your disability. Generally, you’ll need 40 credits to qualify, 20 of which must have been earned in the past ten years. However, younger applicants may be able to qualify with fewer credits.
Do You Meet SSA’s Definition of a “Disability?”
Social Security has strict definitions of what qualifies as a disability. Your disability must either appear on SSA’s Listing of Impairments or you must prove you have another impairment that prevents you from doing the work you did before your disability, prevents you from adjusting to other kinds of work, and is expected to last at least one year or could even result in your death.
Do You Have Sufficient Medical Evidence of Your Condition?
Social Security doesn’t just take your word for it. You will have to provide significant medical proof confirming your disability and how it limits your ability to work. This can include your medical history, treatment plans, diagnostic tests, and statements and prognoses from your healthcare providers. Furthermore, SSA may request a CE (consultative examination) with a doctor of their choice if your medical evidence isn’t sufficient to make a clear determination.
Filling Out the Application: Minor Mistakes and Incomplete Information Can Work Against You
It’s critical to fill out the application accurately and support the information with as much evidence as possible. Even the most minor mistakes or lack of supportive evidence can lead to a denial. Some common pitfalls when filling out the disability application may include:
- Not providing enough medical information about your condition—You should include a comprehensive list of all your doctors, treatment plans, medications, test results, and providers’ professional opinions about how your condition impacts your ability to work.
- Failing to provide a detailed or accurate work history—Your relevant work history is how SSA assesses your ability to transfer skills to other types of employment. Without this, SSA won’t be able to approve you for disability.
- Giving conflicting information—If your information is inconsistent with your medical records or the CE, it can raise doubts about your condition and credibility.
- Failing to follow your treatment plan—If you don’t follow your provider’s prescribed treatment plan or fail to show up for scheduled appointments without a good reason, SSA may conclude that your condition isn’t severe enough to warrant benefits.
These are only some ways that approval for benefits can get derailed. Unfortunately, most people don’t understand what Social Security is looking for in the application process and aren’t used to filling out lengthy disability claims. Having the assistance of a Philadelphia disability attorney can be vital to ensuring a greater chance of approval at the initial application phase.
How Do Philadelphia Disability Attorneys Help Their Clients Get the Settlement They Deserve?
The Social Security Administration is looking for precise information that will allow them to make a valid determination for disability benefits. Unfortunately, most applicants don’t know what SSA is looking for and fail to support their disability claim comprehensively. This is where having a skilled social security attorney comes into play.
Your Philadelphia SSDI attorney will:
- Help you understand SSA’s complex requirements and how to support your claim to meet those requirements properly.
- Provide a knowledgeable legal interpretation of how your condition applies to SSA rules.
- Help you gather and organize your medical records, physician’s opinions, and test results so they clearly demonstrate your condition’s severity, nature, and expected duration.
- Help you complete your application accurately, providing comprehensive information to support your claim.
- Help you develop written details on how your condition affects your ability to work and limits you on a daily basis that specifically resonates with SSA in their qualification process.
- Help you file an appeal if you have been denied benefits and develop a more compelling case utilizing additional medical evidence, expert medical opinions, or vocational testimony.
When a disability has prevented you from working, SSDI benefits can be an essential financial lifeline. However, the application process for getting these benefits can be frustrating and overwhelming for most applicants, often leading to denial.
Having a Legal Advocate on Your Side
Philadelphia disability attorneys deal with these matters day in and day out. With an experienced SSDI lawyer on your wise, it can drastically increase the likelihood of being approved for the benefits you deserve when you need it most – as soon as possible.
At Silver & Silver, our skilled disability lawyers will guide you through every phase of the initial application or appeal process so you can get the benefits you need and have peace of mind for your future. Contact us at (610) 638-7255 or through our website contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Disclosure:
This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Offices of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.