Initial Applications For Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
If you are an adult who has worked and paid into Social Security and find yourself unable to work due to any combination of mental or physical conditions that are expected to last at least a year or end in death, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are your entitlement.
At Law Offices of Daniel Berger, we guide people with disabilities through the Social Security Disability claims process for both SSDI and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). Your path forward starts with us – and a carefully prepared initial application.
How Do You Begin Your Application For Social Security Disability Benefits?
You should begin your SSDI application as soon as you believe you are disabled. The SSDI application process is notoriously long and complicated, so there is no benefit to delaying your application, and your early application can preserve your right to benefits that might otherwise be lost.
Start your application online at SSA.gov or by contacting the Social Security Administration directly. When you file, be prepared with a list of all of your limiting conditions, both physical and mental, and:
- The name and contact information of your medical providers, along with as much information as you can pull together about your diagnoses, medical tests you have undergone, the medications you take and hospitalizations
- Information about your prior work history for the last five years, including where you work and what your job duties entailed
- A detailed understanding of exactly how your conditions limit your ability to work
Having an attorney help you complete your initial SSDI application is not required, but it can eliminate the possibility that you will overlook important information that could be used to favorably decide your claim.
What Happens After You Submit Your Social Security Disability Application?
Your file will be forwarded to the state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) so that your records can be collected and your claim evaluated. Generally speaking, this can take five to seven months.
What Are The Top 3 Things That Could Hurt Your SSDI Claim?
Many valid SSDI claims get denied for one of three reasons:
- Failure to adhere to deadlines: If an SSA claims examiner contacts you for more information and documents (and they will), you must respond timely
- Not following your physician’s directions: With few exceptions, you have to demonstrate that you are doing your best to get better, and that generally means being compliant with your doctor’s orders
- Failing to understand the requirements: Presenting your information so that it is easy for an SSA disability examiner to see that you meet the requirements for benefits is critical
Having an experienced SSDI lawyer help with your initial application is the single best way to keep your application on track and moving in the right direction.
Contact Us Today To Get The Help You Need For Your Disability Claim
Social Security Disability law has been our passion since 1996. Let us help you get the benefits you deserve. Call 718-691-7475 or email us to schedule your free consultation here in Brooklyn, New York, today.