Millions of Americans rely on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) each year to provide a safety net for when they are at their most vulnerable, physically and financially. Every worker files away a little bit with their paycheck in the belief that, should they ever need it, they would have Social Security insurance to fall back on. Unfortunately, the U.S. Social Security system is said to be an outdated and severely backlogged by its critics and constituents alike. The claims process can take anywhere from one to three years and is notorious for denying otherwise deserving applicants based on technicalities and subjective opinion.
What claimants need to realize is that the Social Security office and its employees are not there to aid them in acquiring benefits. The Social Security Administration is responsible for assisting in the completion of applications and achieving a settlement based on need. The complicated maze of paperwork, the background medical evidence, or the opinions of outside doctors are not their concern. Many claimants make the mistake of waiting two years to appear before a judge, only to realize that their case could have been stronger with the help of someone more knowledgeable in the field of Social Security disability law.
This is where an attorney can be of tremendous use. An attorney can side-step many of the typical delays and navigate the system much more efficiently than a layperson could on their own. Here are some common occurrences that can derail your Social Security insurance benefits and what you can do about them:
1. Double-check to make sure you are insured under SSDI. Social Security benefits are awarded regardless of financial status, but they are subject to eligibility based on whether you are insured for Title II Social Security Disability. Some employers opt out of paying Social Security Disability Insurance, so it is always a valuable step to check.
2. Show that you cannot or have not been able to meet the material and substantial obligations of your employment since the onset of your disability. This is best proven through a treating doctor’s records or testimony.
3. Solicit help from your treating physician to show that you meet the medical diagnosis listing. Even though the Social Security Administration will encourage or even mandate visits with their own doctors and psychologists, it is to the claimant’s advantage to seek out their own medical opinion and solicit the help of a medical records specialist to compile a record as detailed and consistent as possible. Your claim for disability will most likely rest upon your doctor’s medical opinion specifying work limitations based on your current health and capacity. It is vital to ensure that this argument cannot be denied.
4. Expunge information that can be collected about you or your condition online. This information can be used against you to invalidate your claim.
5. Do not underestimate the value of an attorney during a hearing. A Social Security Disability Insurance attorney will be well-versed in the local idiosyncrasies and delays you may encounter while you attempt to obtain your benefits.
In this long, arduous and financially volatile process, many claimants find that having an El Paso social security disability attorney by their side, advocating for them, to already be half the battle.
About the Author: Jeff Davis is the Owner of the Davis law firm and a highly experienced El Paso social security disability attorney. To find out more information about El Paso social security disability lawyer, please visit www.jeffdavislawfirm.com.