You don’t need us to tell you that it’s hard to live with a disability. Your physical limitations may make your everyday activities difficult, if not impossible, and your inability to work can render it hard to get by on a day-to-day basis, let alone cover the medical treatment that you need.
As a result, the future can seem pretty bleak. But don’t lose hope. After all, you might be able to find relief through the Social Security Disability system. A successful claim here can provide you with the financial stability that allows you to focus on treating your condition and living the fullest life possible.
Beware of commonly made mistakes
Although a disability claim may be extraordinarily helpful, it’s not a given that you’ll be successful with your case. In fact, a lot of applicants see their claims denied, which can result in prolonged financial hardship.
If you want to avoid that outcome as much as possible, then you should be on the lookout for some of the most commonly made mistakes during the disability claims process. This includes:
- Not gathering proper medical documentation: To show that you meet the federal government’s definition of “disabled,” you’ll have to present medical evidence. This typically comes from your medical records. But if your medical record is incomplete, then there’s a strong likelihood that you won’t meet your burden, thereby resulting in your claim being denied.
- Not following doctor recommendations: Similarly, if you choose not to obtain treatment as recommended by your medical professional, then you could give the Social Security Administration the wrong impression. By foregoing recommended care, you might paint a picture that your condition isn’t as severe as you’re trying to make it out to be, and you also might lose out on a key medical opinion that could tip the scales in your favor.
- Earning too much money: In order to qualify for disability benefits, you must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity. So, although you can still earn a modest amount of income and still qualify for disability benefits, misunderstanding those earning limits could result in income that leaves you disqualified from receiving the disability benefits that you need.
- Presenting incomplete employment records: As you navigate your disability claim, you’ll also have to show that you have a work history that’s sufficient enough to qualify you for disability benefits. Therefore, you’ll want to gather your W-2s and your pay stubs to show how long you’ve been in the workforce. You’ll also want to think about how you can describe the type of work that you conducted prior to becoming disabled.
- Foregoing an appeal: A lot of disability claims are denied. That said, a significant number of them are granted after an appeal. Therefore, if your initial claim is denied, you shouldn’t give up. Instead, you should carefully analyze the justification for the denial and craft a strategy to try to address the deficiency on appeal.
Diligently fight for the benefits that you need
For many disabled individuals, Social Security disability benefits are a financial lifeline. With so much at stake in your disability case, you owe it to yourself to present the strongest arguments possible. Therefore, it’s imperative that you put in the work necessary to build a compelling and persuasive claim.
We know that can be daunting, especially if you’ve never dealt with the Social Security Administration. But there are resources and guidance out there that can help you find a legal avenue that works for you. So, don’t wait. Now is the time to start building the case that you need to protect your long-term financial interests.