| There are lots of frustrations with applying for Social | | | | paperwork is filled out correctly. Thousands of disability |
| Security disability or SSI benefits. The paperwork is | | | | applicants are denied on technicalities in their |
| painstaking and repetitive, the staff are busy and often | | | | paperwork--missing dates, missing signatures, lack of |
| calloused, and it is difficult to determine what is going | | | | doctor information, etc. Many disabled claimants are |
| on with your disability claim. But the hardest part about | | | | hiring disability attorneys to handle paperwork and |
| applying for Social Security disability is the WAIT. | | | | phone calls for them, which can help avoid such |
| Sure, there are probably hundreds of thousands of | | | | problems. |
| claimants who aren't truly disabled, or are borderline | | | | Second, communicate with your doctor. Social Security |
| cases, who clog up the system. But most disability | | | | will need medical evidence to show you are disabled. |
| applicants are good, honest individuals who are | | | | Speak with your doctor about your disability claim and |
| eventually labeled "disabled" and awarded benefits. | | | | ask for specific information on limitations such as lifting, |
| Unfortunately, many disability or SSI applicants wait until | | | | sitting and standing, medication requirements,and |
| the situation is desperate before applying for benefits, | | | | especially work limitations, if applicable. If the doctor |
| and then the long wait begins. It is hard, for some | | | | feels you are disabled or that your disability prevents |
| impossible, to get by while they wait to be approved | | | | you from keeping a job, have him/her write a narrative |
| for disability. And the point in the process when most | | | | with these specifics and include it in your medical |
| disability applicants (61%) are approved--the | | | | records to be sent to Social Security. Chart notes and |
| hearing--requires the longest wait thus far. | | | | medication lists are helpful, but narratives or letters |
| So you ask, why am I still waiting for a disability | | | | addressing your specific disabled condition are much |
| hearing? It has been months, or even years, since my | | | | more powerful and can get you approved more |
| Request for Hearing was filed. The Social Security | | | | quickly. |
| officials use excuses such as lack of funds, lack of | | | | Third, communicate with Social Security. It is |
| workers, increasing caseload, and difficult-to-prove | | | | acceptable to call once or twice to check the status |
| disabilities such as depression and anxiety. Even with | | | | of your disability claim. Ask if there is anything missing |
| $500 million in federal stimulus money, the Social | | | | in your file and if you can help get any documentation. |
| Security disability program will take years to catch up | | | | Often, if a medical clinic neglects to send your records |
| on the hearing backlog. The number of disability | | | | in, Social Security will send another request or two, |
| recipients has more than doubled since 1990, and the | | | | then make a decision based on what they have in the |
| number of workers has decreased by 5% since then. | | | | file. This process can be avoided if you provide Social |
| The wait time is now two times longer than in 2000, an | | | | Security with your medical records beforehand. If your |
| average of almost 1.5 years. Meanwhile, disabled | | | | disability claim is denied, file your appeal immediately. |
| Americans struggle to survive the wait. | | | | The quicker you file the appeal, the quicker you will |
| Is there anything that can be done? Very little, but | | | | receive a decision. |
| there are a few things that can help: | | | | Wherever you are in the disability process, best of |
| First, make sure your application and appeal | | | | luck. |