Social Security disability laws were put in place to protect
individuals who have become disabled and are therefore unable to work.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) programs offer disabled individuals life-saving
benefits and financial support when they are otherwise unable to gain a
viable income due to their disability. Many Americans depend on SSI or
SSDI benefits for critical help and to ensure they receive financial
assistance and adequate medical care now and in the future.
Unfortunately, about 70-75% of initial Social Security Disability claims
are denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA), which can be
extremely frustrating for a person who has become disabled and is unable
to work. More importantly though, 60-70% of initial denials are
ultimately accepted after reconsideration or a hearing before an
Administrative Law judge, a promising statistic which many people may be
unaware of. If your initial SSI or SSDI claim has been denied, contact a
Social Security benefits attorney for help.
Application Process for SSI and SSDI Benefits
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of the various Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. Although the SSI and SSDI programs are different in many ways, they are both administered by the Social Security Administration and only applicants who meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.
When you apply for either the SSI or SSDI program, the SS Administration will collect medical and other information from you in order to decide whether or not you meet the Social Security's definition of disability. The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs, because Social Security offers benefits only for total disability, not for partial disability or short-term disability. According to the SSA, an individual is disabled if he cannot do work that he did before, if the administration decides that he cannot adjust to other work because of his medical condition, and if his disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. The definition of disability determined by the SSA is strict; program rules assume that working families have access to other resources for support during periods of short-term disabilities, including worker's compensation, insurance, investments and savings.
If your application has recently been denied, you can contact a SS benefits attorney and issue an appeal in order to request a review of the SSA's decision about your eligibility for disability benefits. If the application has been denied for medical reasons, you can submit the required Appeal Request and Appeal Disability Report online, which asks for updated information about your medical condition and treatment since the initial SSA decision was made. If your application was denied for non-medical reasons, you can contact your local SS Office to request a review of the SSA's decision, or call the SS Administration to request an appeal.
Major Reasons SSDI and SSI Claims are Denied
There are a number of common reasons that a judge will deny benefits for SS Disability claims. In some cases, if an applicant has filed previous applications for benefits, the judge will automatically deny the claim for SSDI benefits. Other major reasons an SSDI claim may be denied include: the disability applicant lists numerous impairments but not a main problem, the medical problem does not meet the SSA listing for that specific problem, and the applicant worked after the onset date of the condition. Regrettably, some SSDI claims are rejected simply because judges are overwhelmed by the huge influx of disability claims and benefits applications, causing them to sometimes randomly deny SSDI claims in order to save time.
There are also several different reasons why a claim for Supplemental Security Income may be denied, including: the applicant's income and resources are too high making him ineligible for benefits, the applicant cannot be located due to a change of address, or the applicant refuses to cooperate or fails to follow prescribed therapy. In addition, if the disability is based on drug addition or if the applicant is convicted of a crime or commits fraud, the claim for SSI benefits may be declined.
Hiring an SSI or SSDI Attorney for Help Following a Claim Denial
Although nearly three-quarters of initial claims for Social Security benefits are denied, it is important for applicants to remember that 60-70% of these rejected claims are ultimately accepted after a second review. Unfortunately, some applicants for SSI or SSDI aid may give up after a claim denial, under the assumption that there is nothing they can do about it. If you have submitted an SSI or SSDI claim and it has been denied by the Social Security Administration, contact a Social Security benefits attorney immediately. You may be able to request an appeal by the SSA, in which case your claim can be reconsidered and potentially approved. Having a Social Security benefits lawyer on your side when resubmitting a SSI or SSDI claim is critical, and may significantly improve your chances of success when the SSA reevaluates your case. Disabled individuals deserve to receive the assistance they require and should never have to face a denied benefits claim. With the help of a Social Security benefits lawyer, you can resubmit your claim for future and past benefits and receive the financial assistance you deserve.
Application Process for SSI and SSDI Benefits
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of the various Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. Although the SSI and SSDI programs are different in many ways, they are both administered by the Social Security Administration and only applicants who meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.
When you apply for either the SSI or SSDI program, the SS Administration will collect medical and other information from you in order to decide whether or not you meet the Social Security's definition of disability. The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs, because Social Security offers benefits only for total disability, not for partial disability or short-term disability. According to the SSA, an individual is disabled if he cannot do work that he did before, if the administration decides that he cannot adjust to other work because of his medical condition, and if his disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. The definition of disability determined by the SSA is strict; program rules assume that working families have access to other resources for support during periods of short-term disabilities, including worker's compensation, insurance, investments and savings.
If your application has recently been denied, you can contact a SS benefits attorney and issue an appeal in order to request a review of the SSA's decision about your eligibility for disability benefits. If the application has been denied for medical reasons, you can submit the required Appeal Request and Appeal Disability Report online, which asks for updated information about your medical condition and treatment since the initial SSA decision was made. If your application was denied for non-medical reasons, you can contact your local SS Office to request a review of the SSA's decision, or call the SS Administration to request an appeal.
Major Reasons SSDI and SSI Claims are Denied
There are a number of common reasons that a judge will deny benefits for SS Disability claims. In some cases, if an applicant has filed previous applications for benefits, the judge will automatically deny the claim for SSDI benefits. Other major reasons an SSDI claim may be denied include: the disability applicant lists numerous impairments but not a main problem, the medical problem does not meet the SSA listing for that specific problem, and the applicant worked after the onset date of the condition. Regrettably, some SSDI claims are rejected simply because judges are overwhelmed by the huge influx of disability claims and benefits applications, causing them to sometimes randomly deny SSDI claims in order to save time.
There are also several different reasons why a claim for Supplemental Security Income may be denied, including: the applicant's income and resources are too high making him ineligible for benefits, the applicant cannot be located due to a change of address, or the applicant refuses to cooperate or fails to follow prescribed therapy. In addition, if the disability is based on drug addition or if the applicant is convicted of a crime or commits fraud, the claim for SSI benefits may be declined.
Hiring an SSI or SSDI Attorney for Help Following a Claim Denial
Although nearly three-quarters of initial claims for Social Security benefits are denied, it is important for applicants to remember that 60-70% of these rejected claims are ultimately accepted after a second review. Unfortunately, some applicants for SSI or SSDI aid may give up after a claim denial, under the assumption that there is nothing they can do about it. If you have submitted an SSI or SSDI claim and it has been denied by the Social Security Administration, contact a Social Security benefits attorney immediately. You may be able to request an appeal by the SSA, in which case your claim can be reconsidered and potentially approved. Having a Social Security benefits lawyer on your side when resubmitting a SSI or SSDI claim is critical, and may significantly improve your chances of success when the SSA reevaluates your case. Disabled individuals deserve to receive the assistance they require and should never have to face a denied benefits claim. With the help of a Social Security benefits lawyer, you can resubmit your claim for future and past benefits and receive the financial assistance you deserve.
For more information concerning Social Security programs, contact a Social Security Disability Attorney at the Law Firm of Ponce & Associates. This article, which is not meant to be legal advice, may be republished providing all of the resource links remain intact.
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