WHAT NOT TO SAY TO SOCIAL SECURITY So, you’re trying for Social Security disability benefits? Here are things you can write or say that will nearly always get you rejected : 1. I stopped working due to any reason besides disability. Some common mistakes would include: getting laid off, my employer’s business closed, I lost my transportation, or I stayed home with a sick family member. None of these are disabilities and Social Security will not pay a benefit for them. When you say one of these, your case has died. 2. My employer fired me. The question is, why did you get fired? If you were fired for absenteeism, doing sloppy work or arguing with the boss, it is not helpful to a disability case. However, if you were fired due to poor health and difficulty performing your job duties, it can support your case for disability. If you frequent absences were due to sickness or me...
The chance of winning a Social Security Disability (SSD) appeal varies significantly by stage, with approval rates being very low at the reconsideration (around 15%) and Appeals Council (about 1% for direct approval) stages, but the odds improve at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing level (around 45-50%) . Having legal representation can nearly triple your chances of winning at the ALJ level, and documenting functional limitations thoroughly is crucial for success at all stages. Here are the 3 Levels of Appeal within the Social Security Administration "Reconsideration" - the first level of appeal. Your claim goes back to the state agency that denied it for review by a different evaluator. The odds of approval here are no more than 10 percent, very poor. This is a required appeal before other action may be taken. Hearing by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Judges hold hearings on cases denied at the "reconsideration" level....