If you are disabled and can no longer work, you should consider seeking Social Security disability (SSD) benefits. On the surface, the process may seem overwhelming. You may have many questions about the procedures and the documents you will need.
However, having an attorney by your side, one who understands the SSD process and can offer guidance about the various steps can go a long way to helping alleviate the stress involved with applying for benefits.
The backlog
The SSA has long faced a backlog of claims. Understaffing coupled with issues relating to the pandemic has led to delays in the approval process.
However, making sure the right paperwork and documentation is completed can help mitigate such delays. Seeking an attorney to ensure everything is done right at this stage is recommended.
Fear of denial
It is common for many Social Security Disability applications to get denied. In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) initially rejects about two-thirds of all SSD claims. Some are for legitimate reasons; others are due to an applicant’s failure to file out a simple form or include a requisite medical document, among others.
Sadly, this often intimidates many applicants – but it shouldn’t. Working with a professional who knows the process in significant detail can ensure that the proper steps are completed.
Denied claims
If you are one of the many applicants who have filed for SSD benefits and received a denial notice, don’t give up. As noted, disability applications get denied for a wide range of reasons. You have the right to appeal your denial.
Getting an attorney to help you with your appeal is vital. A lawyer can discuss the appeals process with you, explain how it works, and help you prepare testimony that will be presented before an administrative law judge.
Given the delays and complex nature of the process, handling the application process on your own could increase the timeframe in which you get approved and receive benefits. Don’t delay. Seek out an attorney sooner than later.
