The squeaky wheel gets the grease, so goes the saying. This applies to the process of getting your claim to move quickly through Social Security. With that in mind, here are 7 things that you can do to encourage speedier processing and a positive outcome for your Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income claim:
Gather details
Assemble as many details about every medical treatment you’ve had during the 5 years before becoming disabled or the date when employment stopped. This includes names of clinics, hospitals and each doctor who treated you. Be sure to list psychiatrists, psychologists, physical/occupational therapists and what type of testing and evaluations they did.
Complete all forms quickly
Immediately complete forms sent from Social Security, including the function report in which you document your job history, current abilities and all of your day-to-day activities.
Attend meetings & exams
Make sure you attend all appointments. Failure to come in for a scheduled physical or a mental examination might prompt Social Security to deny your claim. While you can reschedule, keep in mind the delay may be many weeks.
For best results, gather supporting documentation well before your interview with Social Security and fill it out as best as you can. Keep the appointment even if you are missing some details, because your Social Security representative will be able to help you obtain it, as noted in the Social Security Administration’s guide, “What You Should Know Before You Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits.”
Reply quickly
Respond to inquiries from your attorney or from Social Security as soon as possible. Strive to give them all requested information and take detailed notes on what is still needed so you can check them off of a list the next time you communicate.
Review your claim status
Check on your claim status about once every 2 weeks. In many cases, the government may note that your file lacks some items or that it needs to sort out some pending issues. Bear in mind that claims examiners are typically burdened with many caseloads, so they may take many days to respond. But if you make an effort to call periodically, you improve the chances of issues being solved sooner.
Communicate clearly with doctors
Explain and demonstrate to your doctors how you can no longer work. Then, request a physician’s statement that indicates why employment is not a possibility.
Request a Dire Need Hearing, if necessary
If you cannot access medical care, shelter or food, by all means ask for Social Security to expedite a “dire need” hearing. Show the Social Security representative documentation proving your status as a homeless person or showing you have been evicted or foreclosed from your home, or that otherwise prove you cannot meet your most basic needs.
If you run into obstacles while working with the government to process your rightfully needed claim sooner rather than later, partnering up with an expert professional can make all the difference. For details, connect with the team at Match Disability Law today for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case.
