If you’re thinking about filing for Social Security disability benefits, you might want to take a moment to learn more about the process. Filling out an application requires preparation because of the amount of information you’ll need to include.
Mistakes, omissions, and inconsistencies in a disability application can result in processing delays or denial of your claim. This guide explains what you’ll encounter during the application process and what you can do to give the application you’re filing for disability in NC the best chance of success.
An excellent way to ensure your disability application meets Social Security Administration requirements is to work with a disability attorney from Clauson Law. Our disability law firm has devoted decades to helping people with disabilities in North Carolina and throughout the nation obtain Social Security disability benefits. Learn Clauson Law can help you by reaching out to schedule a free consultation.
The SSA oversees two federal programs that pay disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. SSDI relies on your work history at jobs or self-employment, with Social Security taxes paid on the income that you earned. The monthly benefits you receive are determined through a formula that uses your average lifetime earnings.
The SSI program does not rely on your work record. It is a needs-based program with limits on income and resources. If approved for SSI disability, the program pays a monthly benefit that helps you afford food, housing, and other necessities.
If approved for the SSDI program, you can be enrolled in Medicare after receiving 24 months of benefit payments. Depending on where you reside, approval of an application for SSI includes Medicaid coverage. Check with the disability team at Clauson Law, as some states require a separate Medicaid application.
You need a considerable amount of information and documentation when filing for disability, so gather the following before you start on the application:
· Birth certificate or other form of proof of birth.
· Passport or other proof of citizenship or lawful alien status.
· Last year’s W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns.
· Medical records, physicians’ reports, and other medical evidence to prove the existence of a medical condition.
· Proof of workers’ compensation, state disability benefits, and other public benefits that you receive.
Having the documents and information on hand that you need to complete an application is preferable to guessing or omitting information. Examiners will pause the application review process and request that you provide the missing information. If they do not receive it, your application can be rejected.
Once you apply for disability benefits, the initial review process takes months to complete, so apply as soon as possible. Applications may be completed and submitted using the following methods:
· Online
· By telephone
· In person at a local office of the SSA.
More information about the application process can be found at Clauson Law. The Clauson disability benefits team will review the application with you to identify errors, omissions, or other common issues that delay or defeat a claim.
The application first goes to a Social Security field office, where examiners review it to determine whether it meets non-medical criteria, such as a sufficiently long work record for SSDI and income and resource limitations for SSI. After the SSA completes the non-medical review, sends the file to a state Disability Determination Services office.
The DDS reviews the application and supporting medical evidence determine if the applicant has a disability that meets federal standards. A disability examiner contacts your healthcare providers to obtain your medical records. The examiner may request that a consultative examination be done by one of your doctors or by an independent medical professional.
Upon completion of the DDS evaluation, the examiner issues a recommendation and returns the file to the SSA field office. The SSA sends you a written notice of the approval or denial of your claim. An approval notice includes details, including the amount of your monthly benefits and their start date. Denial notices state the reason and explain your right to appeal.
A disability attorney provides valuable assistance beginning with preparation and filing for disability benefits and continuing through the appeals process. A Clauson Law representative
facilitates the gathering and presentation of medical documentation, prepares you for consultative exams and disability hearings, and serves as your staunch advocate through each step of the claims process.
You have a great deal at stake when filing for Social Security disability. Trust in Clauson Law’s decades of disability law experience helping people throughout North Carolina and nationwide. Contact us today and get your disability claim on track with a free consultation.
