There are two mistakes that blue-collar workers often make when they develop disabling medical conditions. The first is that they ignore the early warning signs of their conditions. Many blue-collar professionals pride themselves on their work ethic and may go to great lengths to show up to work consistently and exceed their employer’s expectations.
They may try to work through the crippling pain they have developed in their arms or lower backs. Unfortunately, their conditions may continue to worsen if they keep performing the same jobs. Some blue-collar workers ignore symptoms for so long that they cannot continue to work at all.
They may then realize that they require Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. They may then make another common mistake by applying without help. All too often, blue-collar employees try to handle SSDI benefits claims on their own. They might make mistakes on the paperwork and then may give up when the Social Security Administration (SSA) rejects their claims.
Workers have the right to support
Anyone applying for SSDI benefits potentially has the right to hire a professional to assist them. Working with a lawyer can be very helpful for a blue-collar employee with a debilitating medical condition. The pain that they experience and the medication used to treat their condition could affect their ability to properly execute paperwork.
It is very easy for people to make mistakes on complex documents, especially when they have painful symptoms demanding their attention. Workers may also take for granted that their condition is obvious and may not understand how much medical evidence they need to have to qualify for benefits.
An attorney can review a worker’s medical records and advise them on their likelihood of obtaining benefits. They can also handle all of the complex paperwork. The worker can focus on their medical challenges rather than on the paperwork it generates.
Assistance is crucial in complex claim scenarios
Quite a few people who apply for SSDI benefits get rejected initially. They have to appeal before they secure an approval. There is a limited window of opportunity to appeal, and trying to hire an attorney after receiving a rejection notice can leave an applicant in a major time crunch.
Those who have an attorney assist them with the initial application process can more smoothly handle the appeals process. That same lawyer can assist them with requesting an appeal and preparing for every stage of that process. Workers who get the right help can potentially increase their chances of obtaining SSDI benefits when they can no longer work. Qualifying for benefits may be a less stressful process with the right support.