The process to apply for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits is complicated. The Social Security Administration reviews these applications against a strict set of rules. One way to make sure your initial application meets all of the requirements is to hire a social security disability lawyer to oversee your efforts. Another is to understand the following ways that your application can be rejected and not make these mistakes.
Noting an Income over the Maximum
You'll need to understand which income sources you need to report, and which to leave out. If your income is too high, the reviewers will reject your application without reviewing any of the other details. Your attorney will advise you of how to report income. For example, money received from doing contract labor needs to be included, but gifts from friends and family do not.
Suggesting That Your Injury Is Short Term
You want to recover from your injury as quickly as possible, but SSDI benefits are only for those who will be out of work due to an injury for a year or more. If you or your medical providers infer that you'll be back to work in less than a year, your application will be rejected. Your lawyer will work with the your doctors and therapists to get the right information to support your claim of disability for longer than one year.
Leaving Out Relevant Medical Information
You need to supply any information regarding medical treatment that could be relevant to your benefits claim. Should the review board discover that you left out treatment information, your application will be denied. For example, if you saw an allergist who prescribed medication that may make you sleepy, that needs to be reported if your injury was due to a car accident. The review board will want to know that the medication was not a factor in the accident. Your lawyer will review all of your medical treatment with you and indicate which ones must be reported.
Reporting That You Rejected a Treatment Option
It may have made sense to you to not follow up on a treatment suggestion that your doctor offered because it was too expensive or too far away from home. The SSDI review board can use this as a reason to deny your application. Your lawyer will need to collect information from you and your doctors to show that the treatment option was an unreasonable request and one that you couldn't follow up on.
Working with a social security disability lawyer increases your odds of being approved for benefits on your initial application. A denial of benefits means facing a more complicated and rigorous appeals process. Make sure you have the best help with your first claim for benefits.
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