And if you don't want to wait upwards of two years for a hearing date, you might try to hire an attorney for help with the initial application.
Disability lawyers know how to prepare a disability case for a hearing and they have the necessary expertise with Social Security rules and regulations to win at the hearing. Your lawyer may want to practice asking you questions that the judge might ask so that you aren't nervous at the hearing and so that you can testify (honestly) in a way that's helpful to your case.
While the severity of your disability doesn't affect the amount of money you get, the date that Social Security thinks you became disabled does matter.
As anyone who's been through the process will tell you, it isn't easy to get Social Security disability benefits. Our survey backed up that general impression. Overall, only about four in ten (42%) of our readers were ultimately approved for benefits.
First, some background on the procedure of applying for SSI or SSDI: After you submit an application, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will start out by deciding whether you meet the financial and/or work-history requirements. If you don't, you'll receive a nonmedical, or "technical," denial.
The strength of your medical evidence is critical for proving your claim. Clearly, you should see a doctor or other medical professional in order to create that evidence. One-third of our readers said they had not seen a doctor or other medical professional in the year before they applied for disability.
About half (51%) of readers who applied for SSDI were ultimately approved for benefits, compared to just over a third (36%) of SSI applicants.
Some of our readers were still working when they filed their SSDI or SSI applications. Less than three in ten (29%) of those applications were approved for benefits, compared with more than five in ten (51%) of those who had quit work within the five-month period before applying.
Our survey revealed an upward curve in approval rates for SSDI from younger readers to those in their sixties. About half of readers age 50 or older were ultimately approved, while nearly two-thirds of those in the 60-65 age group received benefits.
Our survey revealed a gender gap in the approval rates for men and women. Nearly five in ten (44%) male readers saw their applications approved, while less than four in ten (38%) female readers had successful outcomes.
What can the Disability lawyer do? 1 Review your medical records and get more information if they feel that your current medical documentation is not sufficient to prove you cannot perform substantial gainful activity. 2 Send additional information to the administrative law judge prior to the hearing. 3 Prepare arguments that for the disability hearing. 4 Challenge the job expert at the hearing if they argue you can perform different types of work. 5 Prepare a brief for the administrative law judge outlining the case.
Prepare arguments that for the disability hearing. Challenge the job expert at the hearing if they argue you can perform different types of work. Prepare a brief for the administrative law judge outlining the case.
If you have submitted your appeal for reconsideration (the first step in the appeals process in most states) the SSA states it could take 30 to 90 days to hear back from them. Unfortunately, this is just an estimate and it could be more or less in certain states.
Before your appeal your SSDI application review the process and make sure you have realistic expectations about what a disability lawyer can and cannot do to speed up your SSDI case.
Social Security Disability Rules if You Are Age 60 or Older. If you are in the 60-64 age range, then you may qualify for SSDI or SSI if: You are limited to no more than light work and do not have specific skills that transfer to other skilled or semiskilled light work that is similar to your past jobs.
Age 55 is the “Magic” Age: Social Security Disability Rules if You Are Between the Ages of 55 and 59. For many of my clients, age 55 is often the key age that separates approval and denial of disability benefit claims. This is because once you reach age 55 you can receive SSDI or SSI benefits if:
If you cannot, then the SSA will approve your disability claim. The purpose of this article is to discuss one of those vocational factors – your age.
It is difficult to win a case if you are under 50-years old and suffer from physical impairments only. Many people who are approved for SSDI or SSI when they are under the age of 50 suffer from a combination of physical or mental impairments, or autoimmune disorders.
Individuals Closely Approaching Retirement Age. You are closely approaching retirement age if you are 60 years of age or older , but have not yet taken early or regular Social Security retirement. The SSA also has special disability rules for those of you who are age 60 or older.
While it’s true that the SSA makes it easier to qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits when you are over the age of 50 or 55, meeting the burden of proof is still difficult. And it seems to get tougher to qualify each year.
Light work is defined as a job that involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of items weighing up to 10 pounds. A job is also considered light if it requires a lot of walking or standing, or it it involves sitting with frequent pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls.
I agree with the previous answer. Consult with an attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability.#N#More
While nobody can tell you the odds, you certainly would seem to have a viable argument although I would be curious to know why your SSDI benefits were discontinued.