Are you applying for social security? According to the Social Security Administration’s own data, only a little more than 1 in 4 claims are approved upon initial application. Many are denied simply on application errors; others failed to prove they had the serious medical condition required to justify a claim.
To make your best case, it is imperative to work with a disability attorney who understands social security law. He or she can ensure that all paperwork has been filled out correctly to the last detail. Plus, he or she can gather all the medical evidence necessary to demonstrate the state of your health to the government so your claim is approved.
Proven Legal Expertise at Your Side
Contact the law firm of Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, L.P.A., Co. today for a free consultation. Since 1988, our social security attorneys have been advocating for clients’ rights in the Cincinnati area and bring decades of legal experience to your hearing. Our success has earned us a top tier rating of Best Lawyers by U.S. News & World Report. Most of our cases are taken on a contingency basis. We only win if you do too.
Avoid Getting Rejected on Your Social Security Application
Once you’re denied, you must go through the appeal process. And Social Security appeals don’t offer much hope either: nearly all initial appeals are rejected. Further appeals can take years and once you’ve exhausted the appeals your only option is to file a lawsuit against the federal government – a challenging and time-consuming task. When you’re disabled and need money now, you don’t have time to wait years for an appeal to get reviewed. If you’re filing an application, seek out legal help for the best chance at getting your social security application approved.
Some of the main mistakes people make when applying for Social Security benefits include:
Applicants miss crucial deadlines
It is common throughout the process for a disability examiner to contact you requesting additional information or evidence. When this happens, often the deadlines are quick — two weeks or less, usually. If you miss a single one of these deadlines, your whole application could be rejected. Having an attorney helping you through the process will eliminate this possibility for rejection. Attorneys know how to meet deadlines, and do this type of quick-turnaround work every day.
Applicants fail to complete every piece of the application, or fail to include enough medical documentation
You must include the names and full contact information for every healthcare provider you have seen. Even if this information does not seem relevant to you, it is crucial data to have a complete application. If you omit a single specialist visit, or a single blood test at the lab, or any consultations from your general practitioner, it could be grounds for an SSA examiner to deny your claim.
Applicants make a typo and submit incorrect information
It is easy to make a simple typing mistake. But if it means you get a digit wrong on a crucial account number or date, it could cause your application to fail. When you get a legal team to assist you, they are expert fact-checkers and proofreaders. A skilled paralegal can find this typo before an SSA examiner uses this minute error as an excuse to throw out your claim application.
The Social Security benefit application process is so exacting. It requires a tremendous attention to detail, and complete recall of all medical history. Not everyone is well-suited to catch each type of excruciating detail. Having a team on your side can greatly improve your chances of crossing every “t” and dotting every “i.”