Jordan
Social Security Disability (SSDI) is insurance available for people who have worked a sufficient number of years, paid their taxes, and accumulated work credits, but can no longer work due to disability. If you have to make a Social Security Disability claim, the benefits must reach you as soon as possible to ease any financial hardships.
The process usually has a minimum waiting period of 5 months from the onset of your disability. You cannot claim any benefits before this period. For most people, this is a long wait and will have a heavy impact on their financial status.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to speed up the process.
List All Your Medical Treatments
Your Social Security must include a record of all treatments, doctor names, and locations of hospitals or clinics that have attended to your injury or illness, etc. The application for the claim must be filled accurately. The form must have all this information on it at the start, in detail, so that the process progresses quicker rather than being halted every time some information is missing. Doing so will also help you get the maximum compensation due to you.
Provide Copies of Medical Records
Most of the time, what holds up the process is the evaluator of your case, who is often waiting for medical records. You cannot receive a claim until disability examiners have verified your medical status. Unfortunately, hospitals can take a long time to prepare the needed medical records. If you can send your medical records at the same time when applying for disability, you could save several weeks, maybe even months, the worth of time.
Cases that have reached a terminal stage can usually be bumped up to the top of the list. There is a list called the Compassionate Allowances List, under the Compassionate Allowances Program, first introduced in 2008. The list is constantly being updated with new medical conditions that allow people to make a disability claim. You need to check this list and see if any of these conditions apply to you.
Consider Hiring a Lawyer
Legal processes go smoother and quicker when you have legal representation. You should be aware that claims can take a long time depending on which state you live in. In Kentucky, for instance, it can take anywhere between 262 and 484 days for you to be scheduled for a disability hearing. Personal injury attorneys at KentuckyCourage.com inform people that the waiting time will also differ according to which area of the state you live in since some areas have a lot of backlogged applications and each one needs to be reviewed. Working with a personal injury attorney can help you get approved for a claim quicker. A lawyer will also keep atop your case and update you on the progress made. When snags and obstacles occur, a lawyer knows what measures to take to help the process move along.
Update Your Lawyer
When you hire a lawyer, you too need to update them. The application is in your name so you will be the one to receive notifications and information from the Social Security Office of your state before your lawyer does. Anytime you get notifications, contact your lawyer to keep them informed so they handle each situation that comes up, quickly and efficiently. Your lawyer should also be updated with any changes in your medical condition.
Submit a Dire Need Letter
If you’re in immediate problems, like facing the threat of eviction or foreclosure, you may also be given priority. A dire need letter is submitted to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). There are other dire needs besides facing the possibility of eviction. These can include losing access to medication or treatments or the cutting off of home utilities such as gas or electricity. A dire need letter should give a detailed explanation of your situation as is and what can be expected to happen if your benefits aren’t distributed as soon as possible.
On the Record Request
An on the record request is a formal request submitted to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The claim is reviewed by the ALJ and may allow submitters to bypass a hearing. This is usually done if your claim was rejected. You have the right to appeal any decisions made about your case.
Legal processes are often subject to delays. In some incidents, delays won’t cause you problems but a delay in receiving damage money only creates more difficulties and stress upon you. With these tips, you can help the process move quicker since you need this disability claim sooner than later.
