Social Security Disability- Questionable Security?

Posted on May 27, 2008

“Two-thirds of the applicants applying for social security disability are rejected at the time of initial application”, according to Bob Kraft, Attorney at Law, Dallas Texas. In fact, the time tables for initial application and appeal are no more impressive than the disparity associated with an initial rejection.

The Social Security Administration allows applicants to submit applications if the applicants believe they will be unable to perform any job that is available in the U.S. market for twelve consecutive months. Once an initial application is denied, the applicant has 60 days to file for reconsideration. At the time of reconsideration, the only information reviewed by the administration is the initial application. Thus, the reconsideration does not usually result in the decision being overturned by the Social Security Administration. To make matters worse, the system requires an applicant to file an appeal of the reconsideration denial within 60 days for the next step in the appeal process- a hearing. Unfortunately, hearings are not often scheduled for one to two years thereafter. It is at this point in time that disabled individuals usually seek the advice of an attorney.

Staying Ahead of Potential Denials

Proactive measures can be taken by disabled individuals to increase the opportunity for the Social Security Administration to approve disability applications at the time of the initial application, including:

1. Be certain to complete the application yourself.
2. Tell your doctors about the impact of the disability on both your mind and body.
3. Disclose the impact of the disability on your entire life, including: medical records, education, work experience, daily living activity skills, mental illness or emotional ramifications caused by the disability.
4. Document accurate descriptions of the disability from every perspective and provide supporting documentation through physicians’ records.
5. Seek the advice of an attorney. Attorneys can provide answers to questions that are specific to your case. In addition, they have access to vocational experts and medical experts who can substantiate the validity of your claim.