What should I do if my disability application is rejected?
For those who have severe ongoing disabilities that render them unable to work, the Social Security Disability Insurance Program (SSDI) provides much-needed benefits; however, nearly two-thirds of disability applications are rejected. Let’s take a look at the leading reasons benefit claims are rejected.
Insufficient Work Credits
The Social Security Administration considers a number of factors when determining benefit eligibility, including the applicant’s age, the number years worked – and paid into the social security system, and when you became disabled. You must have worked for a certain amount of time to qualify. Generally, you must have 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. If you have not acquired the needed credits, your application will be rejected.
Too Much Income
There is a limit on the amount of income you earn from to be eligible for benefits. If you exceed this amount you are considered to be engaging in “substantial gainful activity” and therefore ineligible for benefits. Currently, the amount is $1,130 for disabled applicants and $1,820 for blind applicants.
You Medical Condition is Not Considered a Disability
In order to qualify for disability benefits, you must have an impairment that is expected to last a year or result in death, and your condition must be on the SSA’s list of impairments. If your condition is not listed, you will need to provide additional details about your condition and possibly undergo a special examination with an SSA approved physician.
You Are Fit to Perform Other Work
If the SSA determines that you a capable of performing a different but related job, your application will be rejected. It is necessary for you to demonstrate that the severity of your condition makes you unable to perform any kind of work-related activity.
Application Errors and Omissions
Applying for benefits can be a difficult process and requires a significant amount of documentation about your work history, your income, medical history, other benefit applications. In particular, you must provide details about your medical condition or injury, the doctors, hospitals or clinics that treated you as well as test results, treatments, and medicines that have been prescribed.
The Takeaway
If your application is denied, you can appeal the decision, but this requires an extra effort to ensure that all the documentation is in order. Because of the facts that applying for benefits is a difficult process and nearly two-thirds of applications are denied, you are well advised to engage the services of an experienced disability attorney.