Knowing When to Apply for Social Security Benefits in North Carolina
When an injury or illness gets so bad it impedes one’s ability to hold down gainful employment, one available option is to apply for Social Security disability benefits. If these benefits are granted, the monetary award can be of great assistance to the applicant. It might be difficult to know exactly when the right time is to apply for disability benefits. The following guidelines provide valuable information to help you make that decision.
What Is The Application Process For Disability Benefits?
The application process for disability benefits takes a long time. Although the Social Security Administration (SSA) states that the estimated time to allow for the process is between 90-120 days, it can often take much longer than that. Some initial applications can take as long as eight months to be processed. When you consider submitting an application for disability benefits, keep in mind that you may be waiting a long time for a response.
How To Know The Appeals Process?
If your initial application is denied, there is an appeals process you can go through. However, going through this process takes additional time that must be factored into the process. Approximately 70% of initial applications are denied, so even if you think there is no way your application can be denied, allow extra time because chances are it will be.
How To Minimize Your Waiting Time?
Since the entire application process is lengthy and fraught with pitfalls, the best course of action you can take is to apply for your disability benefits as soon as you are legally eligible. Most applicants are allowed to apply the day after they stop working or the day after their earnings dip below $1,090 per month. There must also be an assumption that the condition is going to last for at least one year. Do not wait until the condition gets worse to begin the application process. The application can be amended to add new symptoms or evidence, as it occurs, to help plead the case.
What Is The Exception For Applying For Disability Benefits?
There is one exception to applying for disability benefits immediately. If your case does not clearly have the potential to cause long-term impairment, many Social Security disability lawyers in North Carolina suggest that you wait at least six months before applying for benefits.
In most cases, it is wise to apply for Social Security disability benefits as soon as possible. Considering the long waiting period and the likelihood of the initial application is denied, waiting too long to apply for benefits only delays the process even longer. If you are unable to work due to illness or injury and think you eligible for disability benefits, contact an SSDI lawyer in North Carolina today.
