The first step in getting approved for disability benefits is to complete the Social Security Disability application. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requests a lot of information from you in this application, but it’s necessary for them to make a decision. It is you that must prove you are disabled, not the Social Security Administration. They have a duty to make sure only those who are truly disabled are approved.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with your application, which gives reason to work with an experienced SS Disability Lawyer when submitting your application. Here, our long term disability law firm in Missouri recognizes 3 common Social Security Disability application mistakes that ruin your claim.
1) Incomplete Medical Information
Filling out the initial application is your opportunity to tell your story to the SSA. This means you need to be as specific as you can on the application. Talk about your medical conditions and all of your limitations. Both physical and mental health limitations are important. But generally, it isn’t advisable to list a bunch of problems that you aren’t treating for or that you had years ago and haven’t seen a doctor for in a long time.
The SSA will use the information you provide to gather medical evidence for your claim.
This means you must be accurate on the names, dates of treatment, and contact information you provide for their search of your medical records. The SSA usually only requests medical records from up to 1 year before you told them that your disability began.
If you forget some medical providers, SSA will not know to request those records. If you give the wrong dates of treatment medical providers will tell SSA they don’t have records for those dates due to HIPPA regulations. SSA will not further inquire if there are other dates of treatment. It’s your responsibility to provide accurate information.
This will certainly affect their decision about whether to declare you disabled as this means they will have an incomplete picture of how disabled you really are.
2) Incorrect Application Information
Providing incorrect information on the Social Security Disability application is another common mistake. With all the information you are asked to gather, it’s understandable that you could accidentally give wrong names or dates. It is essential that you be as accurate as you can. Filling out the wrong names or dates, or failing to answer questions, can cause delays or even lead to a denial of benefits.
If you come across a question that is not relevant to your claim, mark it as “not applicable” or “N/A” on the form. This way the SSA knows you have read the question, but it is not one that applies to your claim.
3) Missing Application Deadlines or Medical Exams
Often, additional information is requested by the SSA through forms that are sent in the mail. These forms must be completed and returned by the date indicated on the form.
Sometimes, the turnaround time required is as little as 10 days. If you miss this deadline, your claim could be denied. Make sure you are checking your mail every day once you have sent in your application. You don’t want to miss one of these notices.
If you can’t fill out the forms and return them by the deadline, contact your local Social Security office. They may be able to get you an extension. If you aren’t sure what your local office’s contact information is, call us today and we will let you know. Applying for disability benefits can seem overwhelming. Utilize an SS disability lawyer in Missouri to make the Social Security application process a little easier. If you do make a mistake in the application process, it is possible to submit additional information or corrections later on. Remember, if your disability claim is denied, we can help. Give us a call today.