Applying for disability benefits is a process that requires the applicant to complete quite a bit of paperwork and provide an extensive amount of documentation. To increase the chances of receiving benefits and to decrease the amount of time that will pass before initial benefits are rewarded, it is important to follow the application process as accurately as possible. Statistics reveal that between 20% and 30% of workers will become disabled, but more than 60% of disability applications are denied. One of the major reasons that applications are denied is due to incorrect or incomplete applications.
Once disabled, a person must promptly and thoroughly complete the appropriate application for disability. This application will request information related to the applicant’s demographic information, age, education, occupation, and medical history. Additionally, several types of documentation will be required. The applicant must provide his or her social security number, birth certificate, a copy of the most recent W-2, and a summary of work related experiences. Required medical documentation will include the names and contact information for doctors, hospitals, and clinics that have provided care as well as the dates of the most recent visits. Applicants will also need to supply a list of all medicines along with prescribed dosages and frequencies. Medical records, including laboratory and other test results, will also be requested. Various other forms may be requested that will permit doctors and other health care providers to release medical information to the agency reviewing the application. The more precise the applicant is in gathering and providing this information, the more quickly the application will be processed.
An application that satisfies the requirements for disability benefits will be passed on to the next level for further review. During this phase of the review process, medical evidence will be reviewed and the agency will request information directly from the applicant’s doctors. The doctors will be asked to respond to questions regarding the applicant’s medical condition and its onset, limitations caused by the condition, results of related medical tests, and treatment received. The doctors will also be asked to identify the applicant’s ability to perform specific work-related tasks. If the information received from the disabled individual’s doctors is not sufficient for determining eligibility, the applicant may be asked to receive further medical examination. This request is usually not at the expense of the applicant.
When a decision has been reached, applicants will receive a letter from the deciding agency. If the application is approved, the letter will usually include specific information about benefits that will be received. The amount of the benefit and the date the applicant can expect to receive the first disbursement will be included in the letter. If the application is denied, the letter will include a reason for denial, or it may request further information from the applicant. Additionally, a denial letter will include information on the appeals process for the applicant to use if he or she disagrees with the agency’s decision.
Each year, many people are denied benefits they deserve simply because their disability applications are not completed properly. If entitled to disability benefits, diligence throughout the application process will pay off.