Pitfalls to avoid when filing for Social Security disability
These are easy to avoid... Make sure if you file online, you're prepared first. Gather all of your information and then file. Don't just go online and wing it. SSA employees and your case manager at DDS will not go out of their way to research where you went to the doctor and when . If you're going to be an advocate for yourself, at least be a good one. Ignoring correspondence mailed to you after filing your claim. If you do not respond within a certain time-frame, your case
Wait..Don't file for early retirement just yet!
Unable to work and between 62 and 64 years old? Don't just file for early retirement. Do it after you have filed for Social Security disability. If you file for disability first, then you can file for early retirement while you await a decision ion your disability claim and start receiving income. But, there's a catch. If you file for disability first and then file for early retirement, you can actually receive both. Which means, you can have more monthly income. But, if you
Don't take 'No' for an answer when filing for Social Security disability
We'll make this one short and sweet today. Here was a past case (and for ethics reasons not indicative of future results): Had a client, he was denied and denied again. We filed for a hearing. He was denied at the hearing. We appealed the ALJ's decision and won the appeal. The case went back again to the same judge and the case was then denied again. We waited 60 days and filed a brand new case. He was approved. Why? Because, SSA may quote the law to you over and over, but in
Are you ready for your Social Security disability hearing?
For all those who do not have an attorney: Make absolutely sure all your medical records are up to date. It is now your responsibility to make sure your electronic file is complete. -This is the single biggest mistake people make when representing themselves. Read all your medical records. Find diagnoses and doctor assessments that back up your claims and point them out to the judge. Be able to explain how your impairments limit your ability to work. Don't just say what every
Why would anyone want to file for Social Security disability?
To be real honest, if you are under the age of 50, you better really have something wrong with you or a combination of a lot of really bad impairments. One of the steps in determining if someone is disabled, is that his or her condition must be severe. Anyone who is reading this, if anyone ever does and I'm only doing this for SEO points to my website, is going to say to themselves, "Oh yeah, my condition is definitely severe." Well, good luck. Because for most of you, your c
Completing paperwork is half the battle for Social Security disability
It's rare for people to call SSA and schedule a day and time to file a disability claim over the phone with an SSA representative. In fact, it's kinda dumb unless you're not computer efficient or you do not have access to a computer. The online application is even easy enough to complete on any smart phone. But, even if you do file your disability case electronically, that is just the beginning. So, what happens next? Once your disability case is filed, SSA will generate a co
Is a back impairment enough for Social Security disability?
This is a pretty simple answer until you dive a little deeper, and then this question/answer gets more complicated. If you are under the age of 50 it's going to be harder to get on disability with only a back impairment. It's just the rules. SSA usually believes that there is some kind of work you are capable of performing. Once you reach the age of 50, it really depends more on what kind of work you have performed in the past. If SSA believes that you can still work at a job
What to do when you finally start receiving Social Security disability benefits
I had a client once who flipped his car and severely damaged his left arm and incurred brain trauma. He was a pretty young guy, so it was not so much the arm impairment that got him his disability benefits, but the fact that his brain was processing information much slower than before the wreck, and he needed some time to recover. Glad to say, SSA recognized this and awarded him benefits. This young man had always worked 60 plus hours a week. That was the norm for him. And, w
Getting older for once is a good thing when it comes to Social Security disability
If you're joints ache, and you just can't get around like you used to. That would actually help your case if you were filing for Social Security disability. Here's the thing, the Social Security Administration (SSA) understands that as workers get older, their ability to maintain the same physical and mental exertion levels at jobs they did when younger becomes harder. This is why people who do file for Social Security disability at ages 50 and older get approved so much easi
Don't use Social Security disability as unemployment benefits, it could come back to haunt you....
If you can help from filing for both Social Security disability and unemployment benefits at the same time, try to do so. In fact, pick one or the other. On one hand, you are saying to the Social Security Administration that due to your impairments, there are no jobs within the national economy you are capable of performing. On the other hand, you are also telling the Texas Workforce Commission that you are ready, willing, and able to work. Hopefully, you can see the dichotom
