5 Reasons Social Security Disability Claims Are Typically Denied
Oct. 8, 2020
The Social Security Administration is infamous for denying disability benefits. In fact, 70 percent of initial claims are denied. Many of these may very well have qualified were it not for some common mistakes people make. The first mistake is that many people underestimate how tricky the application process is. Second, some people try to represent themselves when they would be much better off seeking legal representation before starting the application process. If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits it is important to understand some of the most common reasons why the Social Security Administration denies so many claims.
Your medical condition will not last long enough (or isn’t severe enough): Your medical condition must prevent you from working for at least one year. If it is expected to improve greatly in less than a year then the SSA will not consider it to be severe enough to keep you from working. In this case, you will almost certainly be denied.
Lack of hard medical evidence: If you want to qualify for disability then you will have to be able to produce hard medical evidence of your health problem. Evidence of this must include medical records that demonstrate that you are unable to work. It is very important that you discuss how your disability is impacting your work life with your physician and that he/she be willing to submit his documentation on your behalf.
Your income is too high: People who apply for Social Security disability are able to work but they cannot earn more than $1,200 per month. (This cap does not include investment income.)
Filing again after being denied: Many people believe that they will be better off filing a new claim once they have been denied. This is not true. Instead of being approved you will more than likely be denied for the same reasons you were before. Therefore, instead of reapplying, you should appeal your denial decision. It’s best to hire a qualified lawyer to walk you through the Social Security Disability benefits appeal process.
SSA can’t get a hold of you: You need to be available to discuss issues related to your application with SSA. Therefore, you should make sure that SSA has current contact information and that you are available for follow up should the agency need to reach you. If you have a lawyer working on your case, you won’t need to be as involved with speaking to SSA – but you should keep in close communication with your lawyer.
If you’re looking for a Social Security Disability lawyer who will guide you every step of the way in your disability case, reach out to us today. We have experience helping people receive the benefits for which they are entitled. We also handle personal injury cases.