What Not To Do When Filing For SSD

You can make a lot of mistakes when filing for Social Security disability benefits.

Here are the top 7 goofs:

1. Not reading everything SSA sends you.

This is especially true when filing for benefits electronically (online). Not only will you have to sign your internet application and send it back to your local office, you will likely also have to provide additional information (for example, your last year’s W-2, marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.). If you do not fulfill these obligations at this point, your case will sit in the local office and await you doing so.

The biggest delay in processing a claim often comes from the claimant not responding to SSA correspondence. It is imperative you do so.

2. Not going to the doctor or seeking medical treatment.

If you do not get medical help for your condition, you will not have medical records to support your allegation(s) that you are too impaired to work. Therefore, you are likely ensuring you will be denied.

3. Giving up after being denied.

This number could be its own blog for days and days. Suffice to say, if you stop and then start and then stop again, you cannot go back to the first time you said you were disabled. You keep losing time each time you wait more than 60 days to file an appeal. Plus, your medical records keep losing their significance in helping make a determination you actually are unable to work.

4. Not doing your Work History or Function Reports.

Yes, these suck and no one wants to do them, but they gotta be done. In fact, if you live in Texas and chose not to fill out reports the Disability Determination Service sends you, they will just deny your claim. It’s that simple, fill out and send back to SSA everything they send you. Play by the rules or you will get denied.

5. Working too much while attempting to file for disability benefits.

If you are not blind, then you cannot make above $1,170.00 per month gross each month. If you are making above this amount, then SSA considers you not disabled. Yes, you can work, but you must be under a certain amount each month.

6. Not filing for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

This is especially true for those under the age of 30, or for those who have a very sporadic work history. If you do not have enough work credits, then you must file your SSI application to continue your disability claim. As it stands right now, SSA is too busy with all the claims being filed. If you don’t, then you will receive a letter in the mail stating you have been disabled due to lack of work credits.

7. Not hiring and attorney after you have been denied.

It’s perfectly fine to file your own application the first time. But, once you’ve been denied, you do need to hire an experienced Social Security disability attorney. He or she can help you the rest of the way, especially at the hearing level.

We help claimant’s throughout Texas and California. If you need help with your Social Security disability claim, please always feel free to contact us at: (888) 780-9125.