If you suffered an illness or injury that prevents you from returning to work, you may be considering applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. After all of the gossip, misinformation and myths you may have heard, it might be a good idea to obtain some information of your own.
For instance, the years you worked and paid taxes into Social Security pay for the disability program, which in turn, pays those with eligible disabilities a portion of the income they can no longer make. However, that only scratches the surface of the information you may find interesting about the SSDI.
There’s a reason the Social Security Administration denies so many claims
As you can imagine, the potential for fraud in the SSDI program remains an issue. For this reason, the SSA defines disability strictly. In order to qualify, a disability must prevent you from returning to your old job or finding a suitable new one. In addition, your condition must be serious and last at least a year or cause death.
During the application process, an investigation commences to determine whether your condition meets these criteria. The goal is to stop fraud before it begins. This could contribute to the high percentage of denials. Each application must go through the same scrutiny, and if fraud is suspected, the attention to detail only increases.
There’s an increase in applications
In recent years, the SSA has experienced an increase in applications predicted decades ago. As Baby Boomers age, they experience more disabling conditions. In addition, more women in the workforce since the program’s inception nearly 60 years ago contribute to the number of people who require SSDI benefits.
Estimates indicate that one out of every 10 people in the United States suffers from a severe disability. One out of every five suffer from some form of disability. This means that millions of people may not be able to perform their job duties and require the help this program provides. Disabilities don’t discriminate either. It’s not just older people who need financial assistance. The average payment barely keeps recipients over the country’s poverty level, so some may be able to work without losing benefits.
What does all this mean for you?
Being as thorough as possible in your initial application is crucial. Providing too much information would more than likely be better than not providing enough. The application process can take a significant amount of time during which you won’t be receiving benefits. If you receive a denial of your claim, the appeals process only adds more time.
To increase the chances of successfully receiving benefits, many Alabama residents have turned to experienced attorneys who routinely deal with SSDI applications and appeals on behalf of their clients. Following their example may help increase your chances of obtaining benefits within a reasonable amount of time.