DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

By:  Charles W. Forsythe The natural result of a Social Security disability application is denial.   About 72 percent of initial applications will be denied. Many of these denials are unavoidable because the process is designed to deny claims, not approve them.  However, many claims are denied because the claimant made mistakes in the application or other forms. The Work History Report.    After you turn in the original application, Social Security will send you a Work History Report to complete and return.  I admit that this form is a real pain in the neck.  It is also vital to getting a fair decision.  Out of every 100 Work History Reports that I see (after they are filed), about 90 of them are incomplete, contain serious errors or omissions that can get the claim denied.  Most claimants mean well but simply don't know how to complete this form.  They typically fill out the top portion and leave the most important part (on the bottom) ...

  Social Security disability claims are difficult to get approved.  They require strict and hard hitting medical proof of a long lasting disability that prevents the claimant from doing any full-time work.  The failure to provide this evidence is why claims often get denied. Two specific reasons for denial are discussed here. (1) "Your condition results in some limitations in your  ability to perform work related activities.  We have determined that your condition is not severe enough to keep you from performing your work as (type of job)." This is called a Step 4 decision because it occurs at the fourth step of the evaluation process.  It simply means that Social Security has found the claimant capable of returning to one of his/her past jobs. (2) " Your condition results in limitations that prevent you from performing your past work as (name of job).  However, your condition does not prevent you from adjusting to other work available in the national ...

LATEST SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE FRAUD CALLS.  AS I WRITE THIS IN SEPTEMBER 2026, I HAVE RECEIVED 3 SCAM CALLS FROM THE SAME CALLER WITHIN 30 MINUTES.  BEWARE.  BE CAREFUL.   Be Aware!  The latest Social Security call scam is this: You get a call (from what looks like a local number--it's fake-- and a recorded female voice says that if you have Medicare you are eligible for an extra payment of $250 this month. She asks you if you have both Medicare Parts A and B?   If you answer "Yes," she says, "Thanks, that's all I need to know.  My colleague will now speak with you to get your enrollment information."    PHONY. FAKE.  SCAM.  LIE. A man with a heavy foreign accent comes on the phone. He confirms "You have both Medicare Parts A and B, correct?" You say "Yes," and he asks for your age. If you tell him your age, he will ask for more information...phishing to steal your SSN, Medicare Number, Date of Birth, Bank Informat...

You might think that you can fill out a few forms and Social Security will find you to be disabled and start your check.  After all, you've paid into Social Security through the FICA payroll deduction for years.  You feel that the benefits are "yours."  However, the Social Security Administration does not think that way. Instead of "common sense," they use the  20 Code of Federal Regulations . They make it far more complicated, time consuming and just plain difficult. That's why it's not uncommon for a disability claim to take 12 to 24 months or longer to be decided.  Why is SSDI so difficult? 1.  SSDI is very specific and covers a very limited group of claimants. The terms for receiving disability are very narrow and must be proven down to the letter.  This requires complete and thorough medical evidence from your doctors, counselors, hospitals or other providers. 2.  Just the forms are a nightmare.       There are over 450 qu...

I write this post in September of 2026.  Within the last 30 minutes I have received 3 scam calls from the same person (different phone numbers), telling me I may qualify for an extra $250 from Medicare this month.  Totally phony, 100 percent scam.  Hang up immediately if you get one of these calls (and you probably will)! These are computer generated random calls where a computer calls virtually every telephone number.   These scammers do not know your name, address, phone number of anything else until you tell them.  Don't. Here is how the scam goes :   You receive a call from what looks like a local number (It is not).   A recorded female voice says:  "You may be eligible to receive a $250 bonus from Medicare this month.  Do you have Medicare parts A and B?" If you answer, Yes, the voice says:  "That's all I need.  My colleague will now take your enrollment." Then, a male voice with a heavy foreign accent comes on the phone. ...

About 7 out of 10 Social Security disability claims are marked    DENIED. Here are reasons why your disability claim may be denied: 1)     You are still working.  You cannot work and earn $1,690 per month or more when applying for or receiving Social Security disability. 2)  Your paperwork is incomplete, missing or incorrect. 3)  You don't provide sufficient written medical evidence to prove your case. 4) You think Social Security will get all the evidence you need; they don't. 5)  You don't have a severe, medically determinable impairment / condition. 6)   Your severe impairment has not lasted or will not last 12 months or more. 7)  You fail to appeal your denials within the deadline. Most claims are won by appeal, not in the first application. 8)  You appear at a hearing without representation. The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville has helped thousands of claimants obtain Social Security disability benefits, back pay and Medicare insura...