When a person is dealing with a disability of any type, they may need to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI benefits. Because of the complexity of the paperwork involved in this type of application, many times an applicant�s first application will be denied by the Social Security Administration or SSA. While this can be upsetting, disability laws allow an applicant to go through various types of appeals to help them in getting their application approved. To assist with this type of situation, it is often best for an applicant to contact an experienced disability attorney.
Appealing a Denial
After an application has been denied, the law provides an applicant a chance to appeal the decision. This is important in ensuring an applicant is given every opportunity to prove they are eligible for these benefits. Because an appeal must be completed within a strict time frame, it can be helpful to meet with a lawyer who is familiar with these types of appeals.
Reviewing the Initial Application
An experienced lawyer will have a good knowledge of the laws protecting disability claim applicants. Because of this, he or she can often go through the initial application and locate areas, which may be causing the SSA to deny the claim. A lawyer can help an applicant in correcting these problems so the SSA will accept the application.
Problems with Medical Documentation
One of the most common issues causing an application to be denied can involve the type of records provided by the medical professionals involved in the case. Many times, they will send medical reports or notes, which are not consistent or have missing information. In addition, often they will send handwritten notes that cannot be deciphered by an SSA representative. A lawyer can work with the medical professional in completing the medical records so they provide the substantial medial evidence needed. This will help in ensuring the documentation will be accepted by the SSA.
Ensuring Medical Professionals are Acceptable Medical Sources
It is also important to be sure the medical professional providing the documentation is a qualified professional according to the Standards of Acceptable Medical Sources. This generally means the professional will need to be a licensed physician, osteopath, optometrist, podiatrist, or speech pathologist.
While going through the process of applying for SSDI can be complicated and stressful, it can be helpful to have a lawyer who can guide the applicant through the process and help in advocating on their behalf as the need arises.
