Win that Social Security Claim with a Few Tips

Social Security Disability Insurance is one of the few federal insurance programs governed by the Social Security Administration. This independent agency works overtime to award benefits to people with disabilities, retirees, and their surviving relatives. Aside from SSD, the SSA also administers the Supplemental Security Income or SSI.
The Social Security Administration provides the qualifications to determine if a person is disabled. A person is disabled, according to SSA’s definition, if he suffers from a physical or mental condition that is hindering him from doing any "substantial gainful activity," including employment. The agency also listed five questions to further define disability.
• Are you working?
• Is your condition "severe"?
• Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
• Can you do the work you did previously?
• Can you do any other type of work?
Not everyone who claims for an SSD benefit gets accepted the first time. Take note of these tips that may help you get approved for SSD and acquire benefits faster.
Remember to get a copy of your medical records and include them on your SSD or SSI application
- Submitting all the required medical records to the examiner may make the process of application or appeal for SSD or SSI faster. This ensures that all the records will get evaluated and the case won’t have to linger for a long time, which usually what happens when the applicant fails to submit the complete requirements.
When the Social Security, Disability Determination Service (DDS) or your attorney sends you an urgent letter regarding the case, respond promptly.
- Hearing notices and medical examination appointment letters are two types of notices usually sent to applicants that require a response. The hearing notice includes the time, date, and place of the hearing, and also the judge and his contact information. The acknowledgement form should be filled out by the applicant. The same goes for the medical examination appointment.
File an appeal if your application for SSD or SSI was denied.
- Do not re-apply for an SSD or SSI benefit if your application was denied. The first step in appealing for a denied application is to file a Request for Reconsideration. If that still didn’t work, request a Social Security Disability Hearing.
Get your doctor to write a supporting statement for you, but make sure that he really supports your case.
- The physician should do an evaluation on the patient depending on normal activities like sitting or walking. The doctor should also be willing to be involved with the patient’s case.