Many people who file a claim for Social Security Disability receive an unpleasant surprise when their claim is unceremoniously denied. If you have recently had this experience, you have probably been advised by friends and family not to give up, but you may be unsure of how to proceed and are skeptical of your chances of approval. However, your chances of successful navigation of a SS disability appeal can be greatly increased by hiring a skilled and experienced Social Security lawyer. Here are five other ways that you can increase your chances of a ruling in your favor.
Get Help With Necessary Paperwork
Applicants are often denied benefits based on simple technicalities arising from incomplete or improperly prepared paperwork. If nothing else, have someone you know and trust look over your application thoroughly after you fill it out. Government paperwork can be tedious, and it's easy to make mistakes or accidentally skip questions. If you're unsure about any aspect of the paperwork, you can ask a field representative at a local Social Security office for assistance.
Don't Miss Medical Appointments
A supporting statement from your health care professional is going to be extremely important factor in convincing a judge to award you with Social Security Disability benefits. Skipped or sparse appointments will convey to the court that your medical issue may not be serious enough to warrant disability payments. You should also take any medication as prescribed as well as closely follow your doctor's advice on all matters. Failure to do so could result in a denial of your claim.
Be Gracious With Those Working on Your Case
Dealing with any bureaucracy can involve significant frustration, and it can understandably be tempting to take frustrations out on those who are handling your case, but this can ultimately have unpleasant repercussions. Government employees are often overworked, and losing your temper or otherwise behaving in a rude manner toward these people can result in your case being pushed aside. Being as cordial as possible, even when dealing with issues such as lost or misplaced paperwork, may be difficult to pull off, but it can never hurt your case. At the very least, don't do or say anything that can make you stand out in a bad way -- if anxiety and frustration with the situation makes it difficult for you to be cordial, strive for neutral.
Don't Collect Unemployment Benefits When Filing For Disability
Many disability claims are denied because the applicant is collecting unemployment benefits. When you collect unemployment, you are required to be available and able to perform any and all suitable job offers. However, when you file for SS Disability benefits, you're basically stating that you are unable to work. The courts will probably view this as conflicting circumstances, and you could wind up losing both your unemployment benefits as well as your chance for a favorable outcome on your SS Disability claim.
Don't Continue to Work After Filing a Disability Claim
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when filing for SS Disability is continuing to work on a full time basis, which only proves to the court that there is no need to award disability payments. However, if you are earning less than $1,090 a month, you may still qualify for disability benefits under federal law. This is one of the trickiest aspects of successfully navigating the legal waters involving disability claims. Laws on this may also vary by state, which is why the services of an experienced Social Security Disability claims lawyer can be invaluable to those hoping for a successful outcome on their claim.
Following these tips should help with your disability case. You can also click here to continue reading more.
Share26 January 2015
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