Applying For Social Security Disability? 4 Issues You Will Want To Avoid
If you are dealing with medical and financial issues due to a disability, it may be time to consider applying for Social Security disability benefits. It is a very complex process, but things can be less overwhelming when you are educated and prepared. Here are four issues that you will want to avoid as you apply:
1. Failing to Keep an Eye on Your Application Status.
When you file an application for Social Security disability, it is incredibly important that you keep a very close eye on the status of your application. Anything can happen at any point during the application process. Your application could get lost or denied or they could request additional information from you. Regardless of what the status is, if you keep track of what is going on, you can avoid missing an incredibly important deadline.
2. Downplaying or Exaggerating Your Disability.
When it comes to qualifying for disability insurance through the Social Security Administration, the key is honesty. You need to be as truthful as you can with everyone involved, from your healthcare provider to the judge in an appeal.
It isn't uncommon for individuals applying for Social Security disability insurance to downplay how serious their disability really is. One reason for this is because they have lived with the disability for so long that they have learned how to cope with the symptoms. Conversely, there are individuals who want to exaggerate the extent of their disability in the hopes of increasing their odds of receiving benefits.
3. Failing to List Your Impairments.
Before you submit an application, the Social Security Administration will ask you what seems to be 1,000 questions, including what your injuries, illnesses and/or conditions are that are keeping you from working at 100 percent. Obviously, you are going to list the most disabling of these, such as arthritis, back pain, PTSD, etc. However, you need to make sure that you list everything that you currently suffer from even if it is not related or if you feel it is not important, such as high blood pressure, depression, etc.
The Social Security Administration is required to consider each of your impairments individually and as they relate to one another. Therefore, in the end, it may pay off for you to list all of them even if some of them don't seem as disabling or important as other ones.
4. Not Providing Documentation from Your Doctor.
When you submit your application, it is important that you submit medical documentation from your health care provider. This helps in proving that you really do have a medical disability. The more documentation that you have, the better the case that you will have. If you have seen a specialist, such as a neurologist or orthopedist, make sure that you submit documents from them as well. Remember, you can never submit too much information. If you are uncertain whether a piece of information should be included, go ahead and send it.
Contact Social Security disability attorneys, like Iler and Iler, if you need help ensuring that you have everything together or if you have been previously denied and want assistance in the appeals process.
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