Tips for Getting Social Security Disability Benefits

Author Information

Meghan DiTolla has 4 Published Articles

United States of America,
California,
Los Angeles,
6240 West Third Street #223,

Tips for Getting Social Security Disability Benefits

Posted On : Apr-27-2009 | seen (1022) times | Article Word Count : 581 |

Applying for social security disability benefits can seem like an overwhelming maze full of bureaucracy and red tape. The reason to hire a qualified social security attorney is to help navigate the labyrinthine system and help address any problems that arise. However, applying for benefits is a two-way street. While a Social Security attorney is vital to receiving benefits, there are steps each claimant can take. Even if it means becoming more informed about the process, this can help an application go more smoothly.

Tip #1: Do not believe everything you read or even hear from the Social Security Administration. There are cases where people are told misleading information. With so much red tape and so many rules, wires can get crossed. For instance, there is a major misconception that claimants cannot receive benefits if they are working. This is not true, and this misconception is sometimes spread through the SSA.

Tip #2: Gather together medical records. A disability examiner may have difficulty accessing your medical records, so it can speed up the process to get your records personally. The same goes for an attorney. A Social Security attorney may require additional medical screening as well if you do not have adequate medical data to file a claim. So it is important for claimants to both get medical care and to gather these records together. It can be frustrating but the SSD (Social Security Disability) benefits process can be long, so you want to make the process as efficient as possible.

Tip #3: Respond to all notices. There are a couple of very important notices that will come during an SSD proceeding: a hearing notice or a medical examination appointment letter. It’s important to respond to these as quickly as possible. Consider these a kind of “acceptance letter” that means your case is being effectively processed and going forward.

Tips for Working with SSD Representation

Now, if you have experienced representation, the above tips will not be as pressing, as a Social Security attorney will handle all the relevant paperwork and contact Disability Determination Services to make sure that your claim is being effectively processed. The main tip about Social Security claims is this: hire an attorney. This is not just a case of making your life easier by not having to process information yourself, but because an attorney can actually make it more likely that a claim will be honored.

How is this so? Because the SSD system is extraordinarily complicated. It’s not just a case of having medical reports and filing an application. Even small errors can lead to a failed claim, which will then lead to an additional appeals process. This can take months to process – months you may not have to wait for financial help. A Social Security representative will make sure that your medical records apply directly to a Social Security claim and then sending these records to the appropriate legal authorities.

Basically, if you are set to go to a hearing, or even if you’re at the very beginning of the process, this is not something you should handle on your own, as that can inevitably lead to errors, which may just result in your hiring a SSI attorney down the line.

Re-Publish this Article

<h1>Tips for Getting Social Security Disability Benefits</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Meghan DiTolla.aspx'>Meghan DiTolla</a> Applying for social security disability benefits can seem like an overwhelming maze full of bureaucracy and red tape. The reason to hire a qualified social security attorney is to help navigate the labyrinthine system and help address any problems that arise. However, applying for benefits is a two-way street. While a Social Security attorney is vital to receiving benefits, there are steps each claimant can take. Even if it means becoming more informed about the process, this can help an application go more smoothly.

Tip #1: Do not believe everything you read or even hear from the Social Security Administration.  There are cases where people are told misleading information.  With so much red tape and so many rules, wires can get crossed.  For instance, there is a major misconception that claimants cannot receive benefits if they are working. This is not true, and this misconception is sometimes spread through the SSA.

Tip #2: Gather together medical records.  A disability examiner may have difficulty accessing your medical records, so it can speed up the process to get your records personally.  The same goes for an attorney.  A Social Security attorney may require additional medical screening as well if you do not have adequate medical data to file a claim.  So it is important for claimants to both get medical care and to gather these records together.  It can be frustrating but the SSD (Social Security Disability) benefits process can be long, so you want to make the process as efficient as possible.

Tip #3: Respond to all notices.  There are a couple of very important notices that will come during an SSD proceeding: a hearing notice or a medical examination appointment letter.  It’s important to respond to these as quickly as possible.  Consider these a kind of “acceptance letter” that means your case is being effectively processed and going forward.

Tips for Working with SSD Representation

Now, if you have experienced representation, the above tips will not be as pressing, as a Social Security attorney will handle all the relevant paperwork and contact Disability Determination Services to make sure that your claim is being effectively processed.  The main tip about Social Security claims is this: hire an attorney.  This is not just a case of making your life easier by not having to process information yourself, but because an attorney can actually make it more likely that a claim will be honored.

How is this so?  Because the SSD system is extraordinarily complicated.  It’s not just a case of having medical reports and filing an application.  Even small errors can lead to a failed claim, which will then lead to an additional appeals process.  This can take months to process – months you may not have to wait for financial help.  A Social Security representative will make sure that your medical records apply directly to a Social Security claim and then sending these records to the appropriate legal authorities.

Basically, if you are set to go to a hearing, or even if you’re at the very beginning of the process, this is not something you should handle on your own, as that can inevitably lead to errors, which may just result in your hiring a SSI attorney down the line. 
About the Author: About <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.californiasocialsecurityattorney.org">Social Security Attorney California</a>:

West Coast Disability Law Group, LLP is an experienced and caring firm. The founding partners have handled thousands of cases and are well-versed in all the areas of Social Security law at every stage. Our attorneys are also knowledgeable in other areas of disability and estate planning law such as veterans disability law, long term disability claims, and healthcare directives. Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Tips-for-Getting-Social-Security-Disability-Benefits_490.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Tips for Getting Social Security Disability Benefits_490.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Tips for Getting Social Security Disability Benefits_490.aspx

Author Resource :
About Social Security Attorney California:

West Coast Disability Law Group, LLP is an experienced and caring firm. The founding partners have handled thousands of cases and are well-versed in all the areas of Social Security law at every stage. Our attorneys are also knowledgeable in other areas of disability and estate planning law such as veterans disability law, long term disability claims, and healthcare directives.

Keywords : social security attorney california, disability lawyer california,

Category : Reference and Education : Legal

Print this Article Send to Friend