How to Apply and Qualify and Appeal Social Security Disability Applications

How to apply, qualify and appeal SSDI decisions?

Social Security Disability insurance is paid through income deduction and provides benefits to you or certain members of your family if you are insured, meaning paid enough through Social Security taxes through payroll deduction.

Many people get SSDI, Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI, Supplemental Security Income.

Both are offered by the Social Security Administration. However, eligibility is determined differently for the two programs.

Social Security income is determined by need and is income based.

Your income needs to be below a certain threshold in order to qualify, and you can qualify whether or not you paid into Social Security Disability system.

SSDI is based on your work record.

In order to qualify, you must have worked for a minimum amount of time, depending on your age when you became disabled and your benefit amount can be slightly higher or lower depending on your income history and your work duration.

Each program has its own qualifications and application process.

For SSDI, you must establish you have a medical disability and cannot maintain gainful employment.

The Social Security Administration has a list of illnesses that automatically and immediately qualify you for benefits, as well as a list of other illnesses that may qualify you based on your ability to work.

There are many things you need to be aware of when considering applying for SSDI.

And please note that approximately 70% of those claims are denied every year, making the process tedious and time consuming.

Unfortunately, obtaining SSDI benefits is not at all easy.

In fact, it's rather difficult.

Therefore, it's important to understand the ins and outs of the application process and prepare to take the time to be as information inclusive and thorough as possible.

So who is eligible for SSDI benefits?

You need to know this before you apply the two main requirements that you must meet in order to qualify for benefits are.

You must have what the SSA considers to be a mental or physical condition.

This means you are unable to work at the same position you held prior to becoming disabled and you are unable to perform any type of substantial gainful activity, which means you are incapable of performing work where you can earn at least for 2023 $1,470 for a single person or $2,460 if you’re blind per month.

And your disability is expected last for a period of at least one year or your disabling condition will result in death.

Remember, these amounts change every year.

So you can go to SSA.gov to determine the benefits amount.

These amounts also take into account work expenses.

It also increases most years and allows you to take deduction prior to making calculations that determine your income.

So there are types of income that qualifies as substantial gainful activity for SSA.

They are earned income, self-employed workers, contractors or employees.

However, there are some types of income that are not included in the limit for a Social Security disability benefits.

They are buying rental properties, selling your assets, investing in the stock market.

Some deductions you may be able to take are prescription costs, copayments, necessary counseling services, transport to and from work, necessary personal attendance, wheelchair or other assistive devices.

So why are so many SSDI benefits denied?

You must prove you meet the legal definition of disabled as defined by the Social Security Administration.

In order to do this, you must provide to them medical documentation and in doing so provide enough medical evidence to prove you are actually disabled so that the SSA has no reason to deny the application.

There is no such thing as too much medical information or documentation.

This documentation can include the official diagnosis, diagnostic testing and results, hospital room visit logs, lab results, medical treatment history, prescription medication history.

It is recommended that you should ask your physician to prepare a statement, explains the severity of your condition and how it affects your ability to work.

You could also be denied because of your monthly income.

Too much income over the threshold will automatically disqualify you.

Surprisingly, even if you're below the income threshold, working at all can be negative in securing approval.

The thinking is that if you can work at all, even for a little, perhaps you can work more.

You could also be denied if you refuse to cooperate with the Social Security Administration, for instance, failing to provide additional information to the Social Security Administration when requested in a timely manner.

Your claim can also be denied if you are not compliant with your doctor's orders regarding treatment for your disability.

Failing to follow your doctor's orders indicates to the Social Security Administration that you're not fully committed to recovering because you want to be approved for benefits.

So should you seek help from a disability attorney?

It would depend on how thorough your medical records are and how complicated your illness is.

I would at least seek an initial consultation, an attorney, to assess your needs and the process.

Because they are well experienced, they can help eliminate rejections and speed up the process.

Also, the costs associated with legal representation is covered from your benefit when you are approved.

So generally no money comes out of your pocket initially to obtain an attorney. Again applying for SSDI is not an easy process, but you have the ability to reduce being denied by providing thorough medical records and doctor's statements, providing your disability and inability to work as a result of that disability.

Seeking the assistance of an attorney is a very good option as they can help improve your odds because they know what to look for.

Your goal is to be approved for SSDI benefits if you qualify as soon as possible.