Did you know that an American worker (at the age of 20) has a 25% chance of getting a disability before becoming eligible for full retirement? This statistic is from the Social Security Administration’s report on Disability Benefits and it serves to remind us how important it is to get your benefits as soon as possible, by working with the system.
The wheels of government will turn for you when you begin to work on your Social Security claim, but since you are dealing with a large bureaucracy, keep in mind that the wheels may tend to turn quite slowly.
The trick is to find out what steps you should take to help speed up the process. This is not to say that you are going to be cutting corners or jumping ahead of the line before other worthy applicants. Actually, the process of obtaining Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income can be shortened if you follow all the requirements for documenting your case.
Depending on what area of the country you live in and the severity of your medical condition, it can take from three months to as many as three years to process your claim. Consider that some cities will have smaller staffs or bigger workloads, resulting in unpredictable processing times.
However, individuals who have a very severe medical condition or disability and who cannot do any type of job (as verified according to objective standards) can see their claims being granted more quickly. But for claims that need to be analyzed by an Administrative Law Judge, you can expect that the waiting period for a hearing will tend to be lengthy no matter what jurisdiction you are in.
It’s imperative that you quickly respond to all forms that come from Social Security, especially ones that ask you to highlight your employment history and whether you are able to work now, especially if your abilities are now limited. It almost goes without saying that you should strive to attend every appointment with Social Security, since meetings are difficult to reschedule and can cause major delays in processing your claim.
In addition, it’s prudent to consult with an attorney who has plenty of experience with disability claims and who can help you document your condition as well as make statements when arguing to grant your claim. If you have any questions about working on your Social Security claim, please contact Match Disability Law for a free case evaluation and assistance today.
Source: Social Security Administration: Disability Benefits
