Skip to main content

GET YOUR APPLICATION RIGHT - GET PAID SSDI B ENEFITS

 Get your Social Security application right - get paid.  

There are hundreds of ways to mess up a Social Security disability application.  One of the most common ways that I see?  Blank lines.  Questions left blank.  One way or another, these questions will get answered before a decision is made on your claim.  They may get answered 6 months later when the Social Security office calls you--but you have just wasted 6 months.  

Worse yet, Social Security may assume that since you didn't answer the questions, all the answers are "no," so nobody bothers to call you. This will lead to a negative action on your claim.  

The complete disability application will consist, not just of the basic application, but several forms.  Many of those forms will be mailed to you AFTER you file the claim.  The following is always required for a complete application:

  1. The basic disability application (5 pages)
  2.  Disability Report (14 pages)
  3. Work History Report (10 pages)

In addition, Social Security may mail you all kinds of questionnaires as they begin investigating your claim.   These may include:

  • Drug and alcohol questionnaire
  • Headache questionnaire
  • Pain questionnaire
  • Mental Health questionnaire
  • Fatigue questionnaire 
  • Or any number of other inquiries

Filling out your application forms fully and accurately may also prevent having to attend a consultative examination by a Social Security doctor.   If your application and medical records don't explain all of Social Security's questions, they will set you up an appointment with one of their doctors for a special exam, which is nearly always useless to harmful to your claim.  And it kills more time.

Filing a complete and accurate application takes time and a lot of work.  It also takes some understanding of the disability process under the federal law.  Most claimants get an advocate or attorney to help with the application process. A professional who has handled hundreds (or thousands) of claims will have a much better grasp of what needs to be said in the application forms--and how to say it.

Of course, you can choose to "go it alone" and file your own application and paperwork.  But if you do so, please take a few days to answer every question in the many forms.  A rushed and partially complete application will only bring heartbreak, endless delay and likely denial.  A denial will probably require 18 to 24 months of additional waiting to navigate the long appeals process. 



 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IF I CHANGE ATTORNEYS WILL IT DELAY MY DISABILITY CASE?

No.  Getting a new attorney will NOT delay your pending Social Security disability claim or appeal .  Your new attorney "inherits" the case and picks up where the other attorney left off.  There is no re-filing or starting over, so your case is not set back or delayed at all.  Social Security maintains an electronic folder stored in its system.  This folder contains every document ever submitted concerning your claim or appeal.  Your new lawyer may log into your electronic files and see, in real time, all the evidence and other documents in your file. While we do not recommend changing attorneys while your case is pending a decision, it is sometimes necessary.  You may need a new lawyer if your attorney dies, retires or  becomes disabled before your case is settled.  You may choose a new attorney without delaying or causing any set back to your case. If you are considering obtaining a lawyer to handle your Social Security disability case in...
Post a Comment
Read more

URGENT MESSAGE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY'S TOP OFFICIAL - February 18, 2025

There is a lot of talk and speculation about Social Security in the new Trump Administration.  The acting commissioner of Social Security recently resigned and Lee Dudek has been appointed the new Acting Director. Today (2/18/2025) I received a message from the new Acting Commissioner Dudek.  Here is part of Director Dudek's message on Social Security for 2025:   Our continuing priority is paying beneficiaries the right amount at the right time, and providing other critical services people rely on from us. DOGE personnel CANNOT make changes to agency systems, benefit payments, or other information. They only have READ access. DOGE personnel do not have access to data related to a court ordered temporary restraining order, current or future. DOGE personnel must follow the law and if they violate the law they will be referred to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution.                      ...
Post a Comment
Read more

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY APPLICATION PROCESS

  Here is a brief overview of what takes place after you file your Social Security disability application : Application confirmation  – Social Security will mail you a copy of your application to sign. You will have an opportunity to review the application, correct any errors, and send it back to Social Security for processing. You must return the signed application. Social Security will not process your application until they receive your signed confirmation. And they don't send reminders about this. Function report  – Social Security will mail you a form called a function report . This form will ask questions about your personal care, meals, house and yard work, getting around, shopping, money, hobbies and interests, social activities,  and other abilities. This form will help Social Security determine what you can and cannot do on a daily basis. It must be filled out carefully and fully and returned. Work history report  – Social Security will ma...
Post a Comment
Read more