10 Tips to Speed Up Your
Social Security Disability Claim
Social Security disability insurance application are at all time highs. Last year the Social Security Administration (SSA) received over 3,000,000 (three million) new applications. Applicants are waiting months, sometimes years to get disability decisions. SSA is working on the problem, but the process can be frustrating.
Here are ten ways the Advantage 2000 team will help speed up your claim!
#1 We file your disability claim on-line.
Social Security makes it possible to file applications and appeals for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) through their web site www.ssa.gov. Getting a phone interview through the SSA 800 number or requesting an in person interview at your local SSA office may take weeks. Once an on-line application is completed and submitted to SSA your claim is protected and you receive confirmation that it is filed. Remember, you have seventeen (17) months from when you stop working to file your original claim. After that you risk permanent loss of benefits
#2 We provide certified copies of required documents such as birth certificates and citizenship papers when requested.
Social Security claims can be delayed for weeks or months if supporting documents are not received. It is also a good idea to have certified or original backup forms as it is not unusual for SSA to misplace these documents.
#3 We make sure your information is accurate and complete.
The better prepared your paperwork is and the more accurate your information, the faster Social Security can begin processing your claim. Before filing your claim or appeal, we take the time to gather medical and contact data, get your work history together, and obtain key information such as spouse's and children's Social Security numbers. Incomplete forms will delay SSA.
#4 We describe how your illness or injury prevents you from working.
In many cases you will need to prove that you can no longer perform simple, light work duties. We know that you must prove to SSA that you can no longer perform any work, not just your previous job. We are prepared to document pain, fatigue, special accommodations, sleep habits, even bathroom breaks. Our thorough and complete descriptions will enhance your claim and establish your credibility if an appeal is required.
#5 We appeal as soon as possible if you are denied, and we file your appeal on-line.
While SSA law gives you 60 days to file an appeal, the sooner you file, the sooner SSA starts working on your claim. This is especially true at the Hearing level where most offices function on a first come, first served basis. We make sure your claim keeps moving. Over 60% of claims are denied at the Initial Application level and most people do not bother to file an appeal. However for most people, when we appeal their denial we eventually win their claim. If you miss an appeal deadline you must start over from the Initial Application.
#6 We make sure you attend Consultative Examinations (CE) when requested.
You may be asked to attend a CE so SSA may gather additional evidence of disability. Missing the exam can cause long delays in getting another CE scheduled. We help coordinate your CE and make sure Social Security schedules your examination at a time you can attend. Be cooperative during the exam and remember the examining physician does not know specifics about your SSDI claim.
#7 We provide SSA with complete and updated medical evidence.
We constantly follow up with you to see if your condition has changed or if you have had any new medical treatment. If you have complications, new procedures, follow up doctor visits or additional medications prescribed, we make sure SSA is aware of this. We use a special barcode fax cover sheet and have your medical records scanned securely to your claim file at SSA Make sure your medical providers are aware of your SSA claim and cooperate in providing records, notes, and surveys. We also provide SSA with documentation for all medical issues, including issues that may be the primary cause of your disability. We even inform SSA of pre-existing medical conditions that may contribute to an overall disability finding.
#8 We prepare briefs and request On-the-Record (OTR) decisions from the Office Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR).
In some cases an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) can review and approve a claim without requiring an in-person hearing. This can save many months of time and avoid long waits for a hearing to be scheduled. We have a team of medical specialists with SSA and state DDS experience that routinely prepare briefs and submit them along with supporting medical data to get OTR decisions.
#9 We make sure you keep your scheduled hearing date.
In many Hearing offices, the longest delays are simply in getting a hearing scheduled. Some offices have waits longer than 18 months. Missing a hearing date can put you at the back of the line. If you must reschedule, we work with the Hearing offices to get the first available hearing date.
#10 We complete the post-hearing requests as soon as possible.
It is not usual for an Administrative Law Judge to request additional evidence or follow up reports after an in-person hearing. We get these tasks finished quickly so the hearing office can complete the claim and issue a decision.
In the best of times, applying for Social Security disability insurance can be a challenge. With today's huge backlogs it can become a nightmare. If you have questions about the process or need help with a problem, Advantage 2000 Consultants is available to help. We can be reached at (800) 899-3433, through our Contact Page, or by filling out our Free Evaluation.