For those seeking disability benefits, it can be a rather daunting process due to all of the waiting and paperwork that comes along with it. You’ll need to be prepared for your hearing and be able to prove that your disability truly affects your daily life and work. That’s why Merryl Jones, Second Chance Lawyer, is here to offer some insight and tips into the process.
Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid when seeking Social Security disability benefits!
1. Underestimating the Impact of Your Disability
One of the most important things to avoid is underestimating the impact your disability has upon your life and work. There is a wide range of different Social Security disability conditions, so it’s important to have a clear understanding of what your disability is and how it affects you. Even if you’ve learned how to cope with the stress and daily difficulties of your disability, don’t ever underplay it when applying for benefits.
2. Missing the Appeals Deadline
When applying for Social Security disability benefits, sticking to the deadlines given by the Social Security Administration (SSA) is extremely important, especially if you’ve been denied your benefits and want to appeal the decision. There is a formal appeal process that adheres to a strict timeline. Once your claim has been denied, you only have 60 days from the date you receive the letter to appeal it, or else you need to start the process all over again unless you can show good cause for missing the deadline.
3. Giving Up on Your Disability Benefits
Just because your application for benefits has been denied the first time around doesn’t mean you should give up. In fact, the SSA denies more than 60% of all first-time appeals due to a number of reasons, such as a lack of supporting evidence of your disability, or not filing the proper paperwork on time.
4. Going Through the Process Alone
Applying and appealing for Social Security disability benefits can be confusing. Often individuals will choose to hire a professional like Merryl Jones, Second Chance Lawyer, to help them work through the process. An experienced lawyer will know all the ins and outs, as well as the best way to increase your chances for approval.
Contact us today to learn more about applying for Social Security disability!
To learn more about Social Security disability conditions and how to appeal your case, contact us online now or call (254) 776-3611 (Waco) or (254) 493-0345 (Temple).
