If you believe that you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, there are a number of steps you must take before you are approved for benefits. Keep reading to learn what they are. If you need assistance from an SSDI attorney, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
Gather Your Medical Records
First and foremost, gather whatever medical records you have. You will need these for an interview if it comes up. If you do not have access to all of your medical records, call your medical providers to get copies. The more evidence you have of your disability, the better your chances of success will be.
Provide Information on Workers’ Compensation
If your injury occurred at work and you received workers’ compensation, bring all the information you have about it. This includes the settlement agreement, your claim number, the date of the injury, and proof of any disability payment amounts you were awarded.
Get Details on Various Personal Issues
You will need the names and dates of birth of any minor children you have as well as of your spouse. If you are married, you will need the date of your marriage. If you have been divorced, then you will need your divorce date too. Prepare to provide a checking or savings account number along with the routing number. Finally, they will need contact information for another party in the event they cannot get ahold of you.
Fill Out a Medical Release Form
You will likely need to fill out Form SSA-827. This is a medical release form: The Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration. You will need to sign and date it and have a witness signature on it too. This allows your doctor to release information directly to the SSA.
Complete the Application Form
There are several ways you can complete the application. You can do it online, or you can print out the form and fill it out. You can also work with an attorney who has experience not only filling out these forms for their client but in getting them approved.
Remember that more than half of applications are denied the first time. There is then an appeal process you can follow, but this takes up unnecessary time. One of the most common reasons for denials is an error on the application. Hiring an attorney to take care of this for you can increase the chance that you will be approved the first time.
Contact an Attorney Today
Do you want to talk to an attorney who can help you with your case? Do you want to ensure the best possible chance of getting approved the first time? Then we invite you to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free consultation.
