Millions of Americans suffer from debilitating medical conditions that render them unable to work. If you’re amongst them, then you need financial support to make ends meet and do your best to live a normal life. Finding that support can be tough. The Social Security Disability system offers some promise if you’re able to demonstrate that you qualify for benefits, but the process isn’t as easy as it may seem. In fact, a good portion of initial Social Security Disability claims are denied.
Although the thought of having your disability claim denied can be disheartening, you can increase your chances of succeeding on your initial claim or your appeal of a denied claim by understanding why disability claims are unsuccessful. With that in mind, let’s look at some common reasons for claim denial so that you have a better idea of how to approach the unique circumstances of your case.
Common reasons for Social Security Disability claim denials
The Social Security Administration will closely scrutinize your claim to find justifications to deny it. Here are some of the most common reasons they use to deny disability claims:
- The medical evidence presented doesn’t meet the condition’s eligibility requirements: Each qualifying medical condition has certain eligibility requirements that must be met. So, before filing your claim, you should read through the disability bluebook to see what must be shown to prove disability pursuant your medical condition. Ensure that you have enough medical evidence to prove each requirement listed. If you don’t, then you might want to speak to your medical professional to see what else needs to be done to address the requirement in question.
- You haven’t sought out sufficient treatment: The government will want to see that you’ve tried to treat your condition but that such treatment was unsuccessful or only mildly successful. If you’ve cut your treatment short or otherwise haven’t followed your doctor’s recommendations, then there’s a good chance that your disability claim will be denied. So, make sure you understand those recommendations and abide by them.
- You’ve earned too much income: There are strict income limitations when it comes to disability eligibility. If you’ve continued to work and have earned too much to meet those income thresholds, then your claim is going to be denied. So, be sure to understand those limits so that you know when you need to cut off your income.
- You submitted an incomplete application: If you want your disability claim to be taken seriously, you have to ensure that your application is complete. If it’s missing key information, then it’ll quickly be denied. You can’t afford to waste time with an inadequate application. Make sure it’s thorough the first time around, answering all questions and meeting all requirements.
Don’t let a simple mistake derail your Social Security Disability claim
You want to put forth the best claim possible the first time around. Therefore, try to avoid the mistakes mentioned above. Gather as much evidence as you can to support your claim, and make sure you have clear arguments as to how you meet the government’s definition of disability.
Even if your claim is denied, though, don’t give up hope. You still have the ability to appeal a denied claim, which gives you another opportunity to present evidence that warrants the granting of benefits.
We know all of this can be stressful to navigate, especially if you’re facing financial hardship due to your inability to work, but you can secure help and guidance along the way. By being thoughtful about how to navigate your disability claim, you may be able to achieve the outcome that you want.