How Long Does The Initial Claim Process Last?

Typically, it takes between three to six months for a Social Security Disability applicant to receive a decision on their initial application. The exception to this rule is for those applicants who qualify for Social Security's Compassionate Allowance program. The Compassionate Allowance program helps people with severe disabilities get approved for Social Security Disability benefits more quickly. If you have one of the disabilities listed under the Compassionate Allowance program, your initial application may be processed in as little as twenty days.

Social Security Disability (SSD) : How To Apply

You can start your application for Social Security Disability Insurance ( SSDI ) immediately online rather than making an appointment and going to your local Social Security office to apply.  This is the email address for the official website of the US Social Security Administration: http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm

The Social Security Disability Application

The first step in the Social Security Disability (SSD) application process involves the initial filing of your Social Security Disability application and the Social Security Administration's review of your initial claim. This is the step where you file your application and provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) the necessary documentation to support your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security office will then send your file to be reviewed for approval or denial based on the information provided in your application.

Where And How To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits

It is now possible to file your application for Social Security Disability online, over the phone or at your local Social Security office. You will need to answer questions pertaining to your disability, your work history,  and you will likely have to fill out a detailed Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire. Medical records supporting your claim  will need to be provided to the Social Security examiner and you may be required to undergo a consultative exam.  You must provide evidence that your disability will last twelve months or longer in order to qualify for disability benefits.

Be prepared to supply certain specific personal information, including your social security number, your birth or baptismal certificate, the contact information for your doctors and the dates of your visits, the names and dosages of the medications you are taking, a complete history of your medical records, a copy of your most recent W-2 and a detailed work history.  It is very important to make sure that all of this information is accessible at the time you file your initial claim

How Your Claim For Social Security Disability Benefits Is Evaluated

Upon filing your initial claim, Social Security office will check to see whether or not you have worked enough to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits and whether your current employment status disqualifies you from receiving disability benefits. If you meet the necessary criteria, the Social Security office will send your application to the Disability Determination Services department for a full review. This is department that will be making the actual decision as to whether your disability claim is approved or denied.
 

You May Be Required To Attend At Least One Consultative Exam

The Disability Determination Services office will review the information and medical records provided by you along with your application for disability benefits. If the examiner reviewing your case fells that you have not provided enough medical documentation to prove your disability, he or she may require you to attend a consultative exam. In some cases, more than one consultative exam may be requested.

After all the information required is received, the Disability Determination Service will process your claim by evaluating the information within your file.  They will then make a decision based on that information. They will approve or deny your claim based on the medical evidence provided, whether or not your specific disability is included in the Social Security Listing of Impairments, considering if you are able to perform the work you were doing prior to your disability and whether or not you are capable of performing any type of work at all.

Once your initial claim is approved or denied, they will send you a letter notifying you of the decision. If you are approved for benefits, your letter will state the amount of your monthly benefits and when those benefits will begin. If your application was not approved, the letter will explain why you were denied Social Security Disability benefits and what you need to do if you want to appeal the decision.

You should note that the Disability Determination Services only approves approximately 37 percent of the initial Social Security Disability applications received by the SSA. The remaining 63 percent of applicants are denied benefits, and many of those denied applicants go on to appeal the decision made by the Disability Determination Services. At this point, hiring a qualified Social Security Disability lawyer may greatly improve chances of being approved at the initial appeal stage, although it is not required.

You have 60 days to request a hearing. With a social security disability lawyer he/she you are fully prepared as well as creating a strategy that that presents your story in the most compelling way. Most claims are won at an administrative hearing, A social security disability attorney is the best guide to help make the whole social security disability process much simpler. And if your claim appeal is accepted, a social security disability lawyer will make sure you receive the proper payments from the Social Security Administration.