Like most of your friends and family members in Oklahoma City, you work hard to provide for your family and support yourself. Unfortunately, though, serious medical conditions and certain injuries can make working impossible. If you cannot work, Social Security Disability Insurance benefits may help you keep up with expenses.
In Oklahoma, nearly 6% of residents receive disability benefits. Qualifying for SSDI benefits, though, is not always easy. Sometimes, you have to fight for your right to receive payments under the system. Nonetheless, you can take some steps to increase your chances of receiving benefits. Here are three tips for success:
1. Get some help
Perhaps your best shot at receiving SSDI benefits comes when you initially file your paperwork. Unfortunately, though, many applicants make consequential mistakes during their filing. For example, when you complete your Disability Report Form, you may provide insufficient, inadequate or misleading information. Because adjudicators use the information from the form to make their determination, you need to know how to properly complete it. Remember, there is nothing wrong with asking for help. An experienced lawyer can likely help you provide valuable information without harming your case.
2. Use the reconsideration process
If you receive a denial after your initial filing, you are probably not out of luck. You must, though, ask for a reconsideration within a specific time. You must also be certain your filing has current information. If your medical records have changed, file updates with your reconsideration request. Just as a good attorney can help you with your initial filing, you can rely on legal counsel to help you through the reconsideration process.
3. Request a hearing
Commonly, SSDI applicants receive denials after both their initial filing and a reconsideration. Fortunately, you have another opportunity to prove your case. At a hearing before an administrative law judge, you present evidence about your medical condition and SSDI eligibility.
The best way to harm your chances of receiving SSDI benefits is to walk away after an initial denial. While working to provide comprehensive information during your filing is often an effective strategy for securing benefits, you do not want to give up. Instead, be sure you follow the reconsideration and appeals processes to increase your odds of winning your SSDI case.