how can i check if my lawyer filed my new ssdi claim

by Alysa Kutch 8 min read

There are several ways to check the status of your claim, depending on which stage your case is currently in. If one of our attorneys at the Disability Advantage Group is representing you for your disability case, you can always call 865-999-0962 and speak to your lawyer directly for the status of your claim.

Full Answer

How to check the status of your SSDI claim online?

Check the Status of Your SSDI Claim Online 1 After you log in, navigate to the My Home page. 2 Scroll down to the section called Your Benefit Applications. 3 Select View More under the heading called More Info. 4 You’ll be able to see the status of your application under the Current Status section.

How do I contact a Social Security disability examiner?

Your disability examiner works at a state agency called Disability Determination Services ( DDS ), not the actual Social Security Administration (SSA). Disability examiners are typically easy to reach by phone, and you can get the telephone number for your local DDS from your local Social Security office or from our state articles.

How does the SSA decide if a disability claim is approved?

The SSA looks closely at all your different income sources before approving your claim. So if you get more than $1,260/month (even while unemployed), the SSA will deny your claim. The SSA does this to ensure only those who truly need financial assistance receive disability benefits.

How will my attorney determine if I meet a disability listing?

To determine if you meet a listing, your attorney will first see if your illness has a disability listing in Social Security's "blue book." If it does, the attorney will review the requirements of the listing and compare them to the evidence in your case. (For more information, see our section on listed disabilities .)

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How do I check the status of my SSDI claim?

You can check the status of your application online using your personal my Social Security account. If you are unable to check your status online, you can call us 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How can I check my Social Security status?

You cannot check the status of your application online if you do not have a my Social Security account. Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

How long does the reconsideration process take for SSDI?

about four to six monthsThe reconsideration process for disability claims takes about four to six months from start to finish. After you file your request for reconsideration, the file is sent to a different person at Disability Determination Services.

Does SSDI send investigators?

Unlike private insurance companies the SSA does not generally conduct surveillance investigations, but that doesn't mean that they can't or never will. Once you file a disability claim, the SSA looks for proof of your disability.

What is the monthly amount for Social Security disability?

SSDI payments range on average between $800 and $1,800 per month. The maximum benefit you could receive in 2020 is $3,011 per month. The SSA has an online benefits calculator that you can use to obtain an estimate of your monthly benefits.

How long does it take to process Social Security benefits?

approximately six weeksThe Social Security approval process is relatively speedy, but as it is a government program with a huge number of applicants, you can expect to wait approximately six weeks before you get your approval for benefits.

What percentage of SSDI is reconsideration approved?

If the claims examiners find that you should have been approved, that your denial was mistaken or inappropriate, you will be awarded your benefits. However, this is rare – only 12% to 15% of applications are approved at Reconsideration.

Do SSDI approvals take longer than denials?

To recap, there is no difference between the time frame for approvals and denials, and you have very little control over how long it takes, because it takes time for the Social Security analysts and representatives to collect evidence, obtain doctors' reports and evaluate the case.

What does it mean when SSDI says processing?

Are SSDI applications being processed during this Covid 19 pandemic? What does this mean? The Disability Determination Service for your state is processing the medical portion of your benefit application. If they need additional information or evidence from you, they will contact you directly.

Does Social Security send people to watch you?

The SSA Generally Does Not Hire Private Investigators to Follow People. You may have heard some horror stories about how private disability insurance companies hire investigators to follow people around to make sure that they are really disabled. In other words, these insurers effectively spy on people.

Can Social Security tap your phone?

(2) SSA employees authorized to listen-in to or record telephone calls are permitted to annotate personal identifying information about the calls, such as a person's name, Social Security number, address and/or telephone number.

Does SSDI monitor your bank account?

On the other hand, if you receive disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, the SSA won't check your bank account. Individuals qualify for SSDI based on their work history. Claimants who receive SSDI or SSI will be subject to ongoing eligibility reviews.

What Happens When I First Call A Disability Attorney?

When you first contact an attorney for representation, either the attorney or a firm staff member will conduct an initial interview with you to gat...

How Will My Attorney Develop My Medical Evidence?

Your attorney, or a staff member in the law firm, will request the medical records needed to win your claim and submit them to the Social Security...

How Will My Attorney Help Me Get Ready For My Hearing?

It is not unusual for attorneys to wait until a month or two before a disability hearing to first speak to a client. Up to that point, your only co...

Will My Attorney Arrange Witnesses For Me?

The SSA allows you to bring a witness to testify about your disability, but because witnesses can be harmful or helpful, your attorney will decide...

How Will My Attorney Argue My Case?

Your disability lawyer will determine the best way to win your case. First, your lawyer will review your denial letter from Social Security to get...

You can check your status online or call Disability Determination Services and ask to speak with the examiner that is assigned to your case

Mike, in Santee, California, asks “How do I find out the status of my Social Security Disability claim?” The status of your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) case can be obtained by logging in or create a my Social Security account to check the Status of Your Application online.

Your application status shows

You may be asked for your social security number in order to find out which examiner is assigned to your case. To get the phone number for DDS, you can contact your local social security office and they should be able to give you that number.

How do most Disability Lawyers decide which cases to take?

The initial screening for whether or not a disability lawyer will take a disability claimantÂ’s SSI or SSDI case varies by disability attorney.

Does a disability lawyer care if the claimant has filed multiple claims?

Although some inexperienced disability lawyers may hesitate to take a claimantÂ’s SSI or SSDI case if they have filed multiple times and been denied, it could mean that the claimant is really disabled if they are willing to fight for benefits so tenaciously.

Why do some disability attorneys refuse to take a SSI case?

There are some disability lawyers who do not take Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases. There are several reasons for this but the main reason is that there is no waiting period for SSI benefits, there is no retroactive payments, and the SSI payment is based on the federal benefit rate.

Other factors in the disability lawyers decision making

Another factor the SSI or SSDI lawyer will consider prior to taking a SSI or SSDI case is the claimantÂ’s age. GRID rules were created in 1979. These rules identified how age would be considered in the disability process.

How long do you have to wait to check on your disability?

Checking the status of your Social Security disability claim can help speed up your case. If you've been waiting more than a couple of months for a Social Security decision, you should check the status of your claim.

Who can make calls on behalf of a disability claimant?

If You Have a Lawyer or Representative. Disability claimants who are represented by a disability lawyer or non-lawyer Social Security disability advocate can allow their representatives to make these calls on their behalf. Your representative should periodically check the status of your case for you, both for the purpose ...

How long does it take to get a disability hearing?

If you filed a request for a disability hearing, you may not hear anything for many months. In fact, most Social Security disability hearing offices are so backlogged with cases that it takes over a year, or more, to get an administrative law judge hearing. However, it is still worth it to check on the status of your case at least once ...

What to do if your case is still pending?

If your case is still pending, ask the examiner (politely) if there is anything you can do to help expedite your claim. If you filed a request for reconsideration and you haven't received a decision within two months of filing the reconsideration request, you should call DDS to check the status of the claim.

How long before hearing date do you have to submit medical records?

Once you get a notice of hearing (75 days before the hearing date), you should submit the latest medical records you have—any test results, new prescriptions, doctor's notes from clinic appointments or hospital visits, and so on.

What does a claims rep do?

A claims rep can usually provide a general update on your case, as to where it is in the process, but will not be able to give you much detail on when a decision will be handed down or whether there are any obstacles holding it up.

Can you call Social Security to request a hearing?

Social Security office personnel will typically have little information available as to the status of a hearing request. (Usually, if you call your Social Security field office to make a hearing status call, you will get a response similar to "We haven't heard anything.") Instead, make a status call on a hearing request to the hearing office itself.

What can an attorney do to prove a disability?

There are three main possible "theories" an attorney can use to do this. Your lawyer can: prove that your condition meets a disability "listing". prove that you "grid" out of all work (including not being able to do your past work) prove that your non-exertional limitations prevent you from working, or.

What is an initial interview with an attorney?

When you first contact an attorney or law firm for representation, either the attorney or a firm staff member will conduct an initial interview with you to gather the basic facts of the case. These facts are used to help determine if the firm will take your case. The interviews are usually done by phone; however, ...

What is grid in SSA?

The grid is a system developed by the SSA to decide if a person is able to work based on the highest exertion level of the job he or she can perform (sedentary work, light work, or medium work), along with the applicant's age and education level.

How to prove you are not capable of sedentary work?

To prove you are not capable of sedentary work, your attorney will use the documented symptoms of your illness, the opinions of your treating doctors, your testimony, and any other objective medical evidence in your file to show why you can't do various sit-down jobs.

Can you testify about your disability?

The SSA allows you to bring a witness to testify about your disability , but because witnesses can be harmful or helpful, your attorney will decide if witness testimony is necessary to win your case. Your lawyer may be interested in asking your caregivers or former employers to write letters in support of your disability.

Can an attorney represent you?

You must answer all of your attorney's questions as honestly as you can—even if the questions are embarrassing or you feel ashamed of the answers. Otherwise, your attorney cannot represent you effectively. Remember that your attorney is not there to judge you, but to help you win your claim.

Can an attorney judge you?

Remember that your attorney is not there to judge you, but to help you win your claim. Also, keep in mind that anything you say to your attorney is privileged. This means that your attorney can only share information with others that you want him or her to share.

What to do if you have a complicated disability claim?

If you have an especially complicated claim, ask a Social Security attorney to review your application before submitting it. Lawyers often know disability secrets that apply to someone in your specific situation that you wouldn’t find anywhere online.

How long does a doctor have to diagnose a disability?

A doctor must medically diagnose you with a condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Do not apply for disability benefits until your doctor confirms that your condition meets the SSA’s internal definition of “disabled.”.

How long can you work if you are on a sudden disability?

If a sudden disability makes working obviously impossible on a short-term basis, you may be exempted from the five-month rule. The SSA will estimate how long your inability to work should last based on your medical diagnosis. If it’s one year or longer, you may still qualify for disability benefits. 2.

How long should I be out of work before filing for SSDI?

1. Ideally, you should have already been out of work for five months or more when you apply for SSDI.

What age do you have to be to get SSDI?

(According to the SSA, that usually means you haven’t turned 65, 66 or 67 yet, depending on your birth year.)

Can I get SSDI if I can't work?

Disability Secrets for Getting Your SSDI Benefits Claim Approved. Getting approved for disability benefits isn’t easy, especially if your condition isn’t visibly severe or terminal. But if your disability makes you unable to work, you can apply for benefits through the federal government’s SSDI program.

Can a spouse get SSDI if their spouse dies?

If your spouse dies while getting SSDI, any of the deceased’s dependents may qualify for those benefits going forward.

How Do I Check the Status of My Social Security Disability Claim?

If you want to check on the status of your SSD application by yourself, you can use the methods listed here.

Checking on the Status of Your SSD Benefits Application Is a Good Idea

Each calendar year, the Social Security Administration receives millions of claims for Social Security Disability benefits. These include not only applications from disabled workers, but also claims from parents of disabled children, and spousal and child survivor benefits.

Why can't I send my SSDI claim for a decision?

For example, a SSDI claim for which the date last insured was prior to the ALJ (Administrative law judge) decision could not be sent for a decision because the judge has already made a decision on the prior application.

Why are all new SSI claims sent for a new disability determination?

All new SSI disability claims filed while waiting on a Federal District court decision are sent for a new disability determination because their eligibility date cannot be established prior to the filing date of the new disability application.

How soon after SSDI decision can you file for disability?

If Social Security determines your new SSDI claim can be sent for a disability determination, your disability onset cannot be any earlier than one day after the date of the final decision of the Commissioner on your prior application .

Can I file a new disability claim while my appeal is pending?

You can file a new disability application while your appeal is pending in Federal District court or at the Appeals Council after a court remand. The new SSDI disability claim will be adjudicated on its own merits unless it is a duplicate of a prior claim.

Can I file for SSDI while waiting for a decision?

In conclusion, you may or may not be able to file a new SSDI claim while waiting on a Federal District Court decision. However, there is no problem with filing a new SSI disability claim while you have a SSI claim pending in Federal District Court. Essential Questions.

How much can a disability lawyer charge?

Under current Social Security Disability regulations, a disability lawyer is generally only allowed to charge 25% of a claimantÂ’s back pay up to $6,000. In fact, prior to receiving payment, the SSA must approve the fee agreement, which allows the SSA to send a portion of your back pay directly to the lawyer before you are paid.

Can a disability lawyer charge additional fees?

There may be several reasons. To find out for sure you need to review your fee agreement. In some cases, claimants have signed a two-tier agreement, which is still a contingency fee agreement, but allows the disability lawyer to charge additional fees for expenses.

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