Getting approved for disability isn’t easy. Since the majority of social disability claims get denied, hiring qualified security disability attorneys is necessary to expedite the procedure and boost your chances of approval. Medical paperwork and proof of inability to work are only the start of an approval process that takes many months.
Once you’ve filed for a Social Security disability claim, it will take some time for your application to be reviewed. However, there are reliable signs your claim will be approved if you strictly adhere to SSA’s requirements. Applicants must present compelling evidence of disability to receive benefits from the Social Security Administration.
How To Get Your Disability Application Approved
A disability benefit application may be approved if you provided adequate medical evidence to support your claim. Before becoming eligible for disability benefits, you must prove that you can’t work for at least 12 months because of your condition. Below are some signs you will be approved for disability benefits:
1. You Met Technical Non-Medical Requirements
For Social Security disability payments, you must meet both medical and program standards depending on whether you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a program for handicapped people with sufficient work credits but no substantial gainful activity. Work credits, listed as follows, are an essential non-medical SSDI requirement:
- Disabled before being 24 years old: You need six credits (1.5 years of employment)
- Disabled between 24 and 30: You need credits for half the time
- Disabled at 31: 20 credits in 10 years
2. You Provided Substantial Evidence For Severe Medical Condition
To get approval for a severe medical condition, your condition must seriously impede your ability to perform basic work-related activities for at least one year. This means that you have to be unable to lift, stand, walk, and/or remember. These are the requirements for validation:
- Medical history record
- Reports on diagnostics
- CT scans and X-rays
- Treatment description
- Receipts of prescription drugs
3. You Checked The Social Security Blue Book Listing
If your condition does indeed interfere with basic job-related duties, it should be on the SSA's blue book listing of medical problems deemed serious enough to prevent a person from working.
However, keep in mind that every person and every case is unique. Social Security doctors and medical professionals evaluate your claim and determine how your conditions impact you.
You have a good chance of being approved for benefits if you cannot work and earn an income due to your conditions. You can view the SSA’s listing of impairments on the SSA’s Blue Book Listing.
4. You Showed Sufficient Evidence That You Cannot Work
If the SSA confirms that your medical condition prevents you from working, they will look at your age, education, prior work experience, and any skills that can be used in other jobs to see if there is work you can do despite impairment. These are some of the circumstances that will increase your chances of being approved for disability:
- You are legally blind or have severe visual impairment.
- You are the widow or widower of a worker.
- You have a child with a developmental disability
- You're a disabled veteran.
5. You Cooperated With A Social Security Disability Attorney
Since Social Security has a very high disapproval rate for disability benefits, most applicants work with an attorney familiar with Social Security law to help them get approved.
Reviewing benefits claims may take an average of two years; that’s why it is beneficial to have an attorney assist you throughout the process. A lawyer will help you understand and navigate the process, which will make it less frustrating and overwhelming while ensuring that every step of the process is done properly.
To speed things up, your Social Security lawyer might keep in touch with the SSA every few weeks. This could help your case move faster. A lawyer may tell you to file a reconsideration appeal with the SSA if the they don't approve your claim.
6. You Are Earning Less Than The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
If you cannot participate in a substantial gainful activity (SGA), this is another indication that the SSA may approve your claim. The SSA provides guidelines for determining an applicant’s minimum monthly SGA based on their disability severity.
Federal regulatory standards require a higher SGA for blind applicants, which is set at $2,260, compared to $1,350 for non-blind applicants.
Choosing The Right Security Disability Attorney
When filing a disability claim, it is key that you are represented by an attorney who has extensive expertise and is qualified in disability law. It would be best if your security disability attorney has the following:
- Experience: An experienced attorney would know how to maximize the value you will receive for your specific disability.
- Case management: Your attorney must understand the case-to-case nature of every client's disability requirements.
- A game plan: Just having a compilation of requirements and documents isn’t enough to get approved. Your attorney should know how to effectively argue your case.
- Transparent professionalism: An effective security disability attorney would not engage in unprofessional or unlawful tactics to “game the system.”
- References: Your attorney must know where to get the most reliable references to ensure approval and good value.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Claims
These are some of the additional questions you probably have in mind while you’re looking for signs that you will be approved for disability:
The SSA will consider your disability if you could not do any kind of work for income because of a definite physical or mental impairment that can lead to death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for at least 12 months.
The SSA decides how much money you could get based on a lot of factors such as how much money you’ve made in the past, how much money you have now, and how many people live in your home. If you hire a good security disability attorney, you could get the best return on your investment.
Contrary to the claims of the SSA, the application procedure rarely takes less than six months. However, it's possible to accelerate the application process and acquire a decision within a few months with the help of an experienced security disability attorney, who can also defend your case in court if necessary.
It can be difficult and frustrating to apply for disability benefits, but knowing the facts and understanding how to get your application approved is a good place to start when preparing. Are you interested in learning more about the various programs that help people with disabilities? Explore more about disability benefits from NJDDC’s resources today!
