When you become unable to work for an extended period of time due to a serious health impairment, you might qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The application process for these benefits might be a bit lengthy and can take upwards of a year so it is vital you file a claim quickly and in a comprehensive manner in order to substantiate your claim. In the event that you qualify, SSDI will allow you to collect monthly benefits to aid in maintaining your financial stability. Once you are enrolled in a SSDI program, you can then apply for Medicaid which can assist in covering your medical expenses.
Before you file your claim for SSDI, you should check to see if you fulfill the initial qualifications. First of all, you must be under the age of 65 to apply. You must have been unable to work for at least five consecutive months prior to filing your application. And, your disability must be expected to last at least one year, or be so serious as to be expected to result in death.
You also have to take the steps to be completely sure you have met the minimum employment requirement before you fill out a claim. SSDI uses a formula based on your age and the number of years you have been gainfully employed in order to determine if you are eligible.
Because the benefit you apply for will be based on the amount of money you paid into Social Security, you will have been required to make such contributions while employed. Payments into such programs are traditionally made through deductions from your wages.
As soon as you have met this initial criteria, you need to gather the proper supporting documents to file a claim. These documents may include your income tax returns, your employment history, proof of income, and payments to SSDI. You will also be required to show substantial proof of medical impairment to show you are disabled and not able to be gainfully employed. The medical documentation could include proof of doctor's visits, lab reports, prescriptions, treatment, time in the hospital, and any other medical records which would validate your condition.
SSDI will take the steps to see if your current medical condition is on their list of impairments which will contain serious conditions which would automatically qualify you as a disabled person.
If the impairment you have is on this list, you will be in a good position to be approved. However, there are no guarantees. Your medical documentation will need to be comprehensive enough to show you do indeed possess a qualifying disability.
As soon as you procure all of your documentation, you can make an application via your local SSA office or you may apply online.
Because of a backlog of applications, it will take a minimum of 90 days and as long as one year for your claim to be reviewed. Statistically, most claims are denied the first time around. In this case, you can ask for a reconsideration of your application. If the reconsideration of your case is the same, i.e. you're denied again, you can file an appeal. The appeals process can take as long as your initial claim, 90 days or more.
As soon as you reach the point it is necessary to file an appeal, it might be best to hire a disability attorney to aid in the filling out of the claim. Hiring a lawyer who specializes in disability law can potentially help you gain a better outcome in your claim for SSDI benefits.
Before you file your claim for SSDI, you should check to see if you fulfill the initial qualifications. First of all, you must be under the age of 65 to apply. You must have been unable to work for at least five consecutive months prior to filing your application. And, your disability must be expected to last at least one year, or be so serious as to be expected to result in death.
You also have to take the steps to be completely sure you have met the minimum employment requirement before you fill out a claim. SSDI uses a formula based on your age and the number of years you have been gainfully employed in order to determine if you are eligible.
Because the benefit you apply for will be based on the amount of money you paid into Social Security, you will have been required to make such contributions while employed. Payments into such programs are traditionally made through deductions from your wages.
As soon as you have met this initial criteria, you need to gather the proper supporting documents to file a claim. These documents may include your income tax returns, your employment history, proof of income, and payments to SSDI. You will also be required to show substantial proof of medical impairment to show you are disabled and not able to be gainfully employed. The medical documentation could include proof of doctor's visits, lab reports, prescriptions, treatment, time in the hospital, and any other medical records which would validate your condition.
SSDI will take the steps to see if your current medical condition is on their list of impairments which will contain serious conditions which would automatically qualify you as a disabled person.
If the impairment you have is on this list, you will be in a good position to be approved. However, there are no guarantees. Your medical documentation will need to be comprehensive enough to show you do indeed possess a qualifying disability.
As soon as you procure all of your documentation, you can make an application via your local SSA office or you may apply online.
Because of a backlog of applications, it will take a minimum of 90 days and as long as one year for your claim to be reviewed. Statistically, most claims are denied the first time around. In this case, you can ask for a reconsideration of your application. If the reconsideration of your case is the same, i.e. you're denied again, you can file an appeal. The appeals process can take as long as your initial claim, 90 days or more.
As soon as you reach the point it is necessary to file an appeal, it might be best to hire a disability attorney to aid in the filling out of the claim. Hiring a lawyer who specializes in disability law can potentially help you gain a better outcome in your claim for SSDI benefits.
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If you've been denied for Social Security benefits in Texas, consider hiring a Texas Social Security lawyer. Social Security disability lawyers only charge a fee if they win your case.