Some Of The Biggest Challenges Of Applying & Appealing Social Security Disability Benefits Claims

Two of the greatest challenges that people run into are access to medical care and not understanding how Social Security disability benefits work.

Lack Of Access To Medical Care: It is extremely difficult to get disability approved by Social Security if you aren’t actively receiving medical care or seeing doctors that will help explain the cause and extent of your disability. Unfortunately, with the rising cost of healthcare, this lack of access can be one of the greatest barriers to getting the benefits that you need.

Impairments Lasting Less Than 12 Months or Your Ability To Do Other Work: The other challenge is that many people are denied disability because they don’t understand that they are not eligible to receive a benefit for an impairment that’s not going to last for 12 months. Alternatively, people may not understand that they must have an injury or illness that makes them incapable of performing any type of full-time work.

The Best Time To Apply For Disability Benefits

If you’re expected to be unable to work for at least 12 months from the very first day that you stop working, you should apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. However, it may not make sense to file until your doctors are clear on the long-term impact of your injury and/or illness.

Being Too Late To File

While there is no problem with filing too early once you’ve determined eligibility, there may be a time where you’re too late. If you’re filing for Social Security’s Title II disability benefits, you will only remain insured for about five years after you have stopped working. The point where your Social Security Work Credits expire is call your Date Last Insured. You must establish that you are disabled prior to your Date Last Insured to get the Title II disability benefit.

You can file after your Date Last Insured. However, it can become more difficult to establish a disability the further away you get from the day you stopped working.

The Documents Needed To File For Social Security Disability Benefits

If your doctors are willing to provide statements in support of your claim, that can help make your situation as clear as possible for Social Security decision-makers. Your medical documentation needs to define the types of health issues that you’re dealing with and the kind of limitations that you’re experiencing because of them.

Social Security is also going to be looking for a 15-year work background. You can document that with a resume or a list of the types of jobs that you’ve had over the last 15 years. The decision makers at Social Security are going to need to understand not only what the job title was, but what the responsibilities were, and what the physical and mental demands of the job were.

For example, they may ask questions such as:

• Were you doing a lot of lifting?
• Were you on your feet all day?
• Were you primarily at a desk?
• Were you supervising people?
• And more…

The rest of the information for the application itself primarily focuses on personal data (like, where you were born, when you were married, how far you went in school).

The Benefits Of Hiring An Experienced Social Security Disability Attorney

As you get started with the online application for benefits, you’ll notice that the process involves a lot of paperwork. Misunderstandings and miscommunications with Social Security or with Disability Determination Services, who make the decision, are things that can cause denials early in the process.

We at Lund Law Carolina can more easily piece together a record in support of disability if we have control of the claim from the very start. Even if you file on your own, there may come a time when you need assistance. If you have difficulty providing the type of documentation that Social Security needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an attorney who can help.

With the guidance of a skilled attorney for Social Security Disability Law Cases, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we’ll make it look easy. For more information on Social Security Disability Law in North Carolina, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling or texting (704) 412-4773 today.