Getting approved for Social Security Disability benefits can be a difficult process. With that, a large portion of those who apply initially get denied by the Social Security Administration.
To help increase your odds of getting approved for disability benefits, here are 3 common mistakes people make that could risk their chances of having a claim accepted, and how to avoid them.
1. Still working a full time job while applying
You can still maintain a part-time job and receive disability benefits, however as soon as you earn over a specific amount of money monthly (this can change from time to time), you can no longer qualify.
The point of disability benefits is to provide financial help to those who need support to take care of themselves as well as their families while they are no longer able to work due to a medical issue.
If you can still work a full time job, that contradicts your case claiming you are unable to work so it’s important to know just how much you can earn before applying for benefits. You can find the most up to date amount of allowable monthly earnings by contacting the Social Security Administration.
Overall, you can still work a part-time job and receive benefits, again just make sure you do not cross the monthly earnings threshold dictated by the Social Security Administration.
2. Not seeing a doctor for your medical issue before applying
If you have not seen a doctor for your medical issue before you apply for disability benefits, it can be hard to convince the Social Security Administration that your condition is serious enough to warrant benefits in the first place.
In addition to this, if you are not taking medication or receiving medical treatment for your condition, Social Security won’t know whether your condition could quickly improve with the proper medical treatment, allowing you to go back to work.
Ultimately, you must be able to prove that your condition prevents you from working and having medical evidence will support your claim. Ideally, you’ll want to have seen a doctor within the last 12 months before applying for benefits.
3. Applying for benefits on your own
With so many applications getting initially denied by the Social Security Administration, it can be difficult to get approved on your own. This is even more true for those who have never applied before which is the case for most applicants.
By hiring an experienced lawyer or legal representative, you have a 300% higher chance of benefits approval as well as an increased chance of receiving more benefits monthly. This means the right legal support can help you maximize the compensation you end up receiving.
On top of that, you can actually hire an experienced lawyer on contingency. This means you only pay if the lawyer is successful with your claim and you get approved for benefits.
Retaining an experienced lawyer actually gets even more important if your initial claim is denied after applying on your own.
A good disability lawyer has the experience you need to navigate the Social Security Disability process and increases your chances of getting approved. They will also be able to spot any accidental mistakes made on behalf of the Social Security Administration which can happen from time to time.
We hope this article was helpful and will help you receive the benefits you deserve.
