If you have developed an illness or sustained an injury that has left you unable to work for at least 12 months, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Since its inception, SSD has become an invaluable resource for millions of injured or ailing workers – but getting approved isn’t easy.
Your SSD claim can be denied during any stage of the application process and many initial applications are rejected unfairly. If that happens to you, you need to file an appeal right away.
Here are four tips that can help you successfully appeal your SSD denial.
Submit a timely appeal
The Social Security Administration (SSA) always communicates a denial via a letter. Once you receive this notification, you will be required to submit your appeal within 60 days from the date indicated on this letter. Do not delay or you will have to start your entire claim from the beginning.
Get your paperwork right
You will be required to submit Form SSA-561 during your appeal alongside the Reconsideration Disability Report. Basically, this asks the agency to take a new look at your claim. The third form you will be required to submit during your appeal is the Authorization to Disclose Information to the SSA. These help your appeal get off to a good start.
Create an effective letter of appeal
Alongside your appeals forms, you will have a few lines to justify why you deserve the SSD benefits. You may feel the need to provide a detailed justification of your claim and why you think the initial denial was made in error. You can do this by attaching a letter of appeal alongside the forms.
Provide more medical evidence
Medical records and doctor statements play crucial roles in determining the outcome of your SSDI appeal. If your initial claim was denied, you may consider furnishing the SSA with additional evidence regarding your medical condition.
Appealing an SSDI claim is never a walk in the park. If your claim has been denied, it may be time to get some experienced guidance.