After waiting three to five months for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to decide on your disability application, it’s disheartening to read a letter stating that you were denied benefits. Fortunately, you can appeal SSA’s decision or submit a new application, and speed up the process by filing online. But, should you simply upload more files and hope that the SSA agrees with you?
Before pursuing an appeal on your own, it’s a good idea to speak with a Social Security disability attorney who knows about the complex Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) appeals process. An attorney who regularly handles such cases can take the pressure off of you so you can focus on the illness or injury that prevents you from working.
Use Medical Records That Support Your Disability Claim
Your medical records are a key part of your disability appeal. The files provide a history of your illness or injury and how your deteriorating condition limits your ability to work. Without up-to-date documents that detail the extent of your illness or injury, SSA’s disability examiner and medical team will more than likely deny your request for reconsideration.
A disability attorney can review the files you submitted in your initial application and recommend adding new or missing information that can strengthen your appeal. What’s more, with your written permission, an attorney can request the files in a timely manner on your behalf.
Get Statements to Support Your Disability Claim
How has your illness or injury affected your ability to work? A disability lawyer can provide written statements from others to answer the question and affirm your claim of disability. For example, a doctor, occupational or physical therapist, or a psychologist who has treated you over a long period of time can offer insight into your condition and offer opinions about your recovery.
Your family members and close friends may also contribute statements on how your condition has impacted your quality of life. For instance, your inability to work can hit your household finances hard and lead to a decline in your family’s quality of life, especially if you are the only one working and have dependents. What’s more, if your condition has resulted in a diagnosis of clinical depression, your family members would also feel the impact of your mental state.
The more information you provide SSA about your life-changing condition, the more your chances increase for getting approved for disability benefits.
Appealing Your Case to a Judge
If you are at the point where the SSA has denied your reconsideration request, you can ask for a hearing with an administrative law judge. Appearing before a judge to explain why you should receive disability benefits is unnerving. But, you can avoid the stress by having a Social Security disability lawyer represent you at the hearing.
Before the hearing, your lawyer can write legal briefs and provide other documents for the judge to review. Depending on the type of injury or illness you suffered, a medical expert could testify at the hearing about the nature of your medical condition. Your attorney can help you prepare in advance to respond to questions the judge may ask about your impairment.
Contact Joel Thrift Law
If you are worried about an SSA disability denial, Joel Thrift Law can help you. Our firm handles all aspects of Social Security disability cases, from filing the initial application to the multilevel appeals process.
When you are struggling with a health condition, the last thing you want to do is figure out what to file online that would convince SSA to approve your request for disability benefits. At Joel Thrift Law, we know the type of documents, data, and other information SSA looks for when reviewing SSDI requests.
SSA gives you 60 days from the date of the denial notice to file an appeal. So, time is of the essence. Contact Joel Thrift Law today so that we start working on your appeal.