The Oddest Things That Could Increase Approval of Your SSDI Claim

If you suffer from an illness or impairment that prevents you from working like you used to or adjusting to a new line of work, you may be worried about the next step of action. If you have already figured out that you can apply for disability benefits with the Social Security but still have your reservations about your eligibility of qualifying for benefits, this might be for you. The importance of knowing what could increase your chances of approval cannot be overemphasized since the process of applying for disability benefits is usually tedious and time-consuming; this can help reduce your chances of getting denied by the SSA. oftentimes, these things are overlooked; however, they greatly influence the chances of getting approval on claims.

Avoid exaggerations in your claim

When talking with Social Security or completing your disability form, it is important, to be honest, and simple. Clearly, state what you can and cannot do due to your disability and avoid making exaggerations. This does not mean you should not include all the problems you are facing; however, endeavor to keep things uncomplicated and precise.

Ensure to establish that your income does not exceed the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Threshold

Failing to establish that your monthly income or earnings do not exceed the SGA threshold/level could harm your chances of winning disability benefits. It is important to include evidence that supports the claim that your income is within the financial requirement of the SSA.

Take your prescribed medication

It is important to follow your doctor’s guide at all times including taking your medication as recommended and attending all appointments. Also, ensure to inform your physician of whatever form of healthcare you may be receiving from other providers. The SSA often takes into consideration your response to prescribed medication, and in most cases, the judges will deny claims in which the claimant did not adhere to what was prescribed. Whether or not you had no means of obtaining the needed medication is often of little interest to an administrative law judge.

Your Quit-Work Date

Reports show that people who worked while applying for disability benefits had reduced chances of getting disability benefits than those who had quit work 5 months prior to their application. This probably happened because applicants who were working were most likely earning over the limit that Social Security allowed. Even if they weren’t, it was hard to believe they were disabled since they were capable of doing work. However, disability examiners and judges appreciate a long work history so being out of work for an extended period of time might be a problem as well. Claimants who were out of work for at least 150 days were often less likely to get approved.

The frequency of your Medical Visits

Another point often overlooked that greatly influences your chances of getting approval is the frequency of your medical visits. It is advisable to have ongoing medical treatment months or years before your application since your disability claim will be evaluated on your medical basis. If you do not frequent appointments with your doctor, it might be challenging to get a supporting statement which is required by the SSA for the processing of your claim. Also, if you are not visiting the doctor frequently, it might be assumed your condition is not that severe. To be approved by the SSA, you should be visiting your doctor at least twice in a month.  

The presence of a disability lawyer

Reports show that claimants who hired disability lawyers were more likely to get approval from the SSA than those who did not. Most claimants are not approved on their initial application; hence, they are often forced to go through the appeals route. Although you can go through the process without the hiring a lawyer, it is good advice to get the assistance of disability lawyer so as not to hurt your chances of winning.

Your level of Cooperation with the DDS examiner and others working on your case

It is good advice to maintain a cordial relationship with people working on your case because how you last communicated with one of those individuals can make a difference in the attention your case gets. Even if your case is not handled properly, it never pays to be rude to those at the DDS or SSA; they usually have many cases to work on and many phone calls to deal with.

Your age

The medical-vocational grid rules are generally more favorable to those at the advanced age (above 50) because the SSA does not expect a worker at this age to take on much vocational adjustment or retraining (i.e., in cases where the claimants possess skills that are not transferable and are restricted to sedentary work).

The presence of a written statement or level of involvement of your treating physician

Asking your primary care physician for a written statement might be a challenge if you do not have a sound relationship. The presence of a written can greatly influence your chances of getting approval from Social Security; hence it is advisable to include this piece of information as it allows for expedited processing of your claim.

Adequate reviewing and monitoring of your file

Checking on the status of your claim can speed up the process and positively influence your chances of getting approval. It is important to be patient during the process; however, it is recommended you contact the SSA regularly to ensure nothing is holding your application back (like missing medical records). It takes 90 - 150 days to get a response from the SSA; this could be shorter or longer. You can contact the local SSA office, call the disability examiner assigned to your case or go online to check your status.