Your SSD Questions Answered: “I Have Been Battling My Disease for More Than a Year and I Know I Cannot Go Back to Work — When Should I Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?”

If you have been living with a serious illness or disease for over a year and you know deep down that returning to work just is not possible for you anymore, you may be asking yourself, “When should I apply for Social Security Disability benefits?” The short answer is simple: as soon as possible. The truth of the matter is that the Social Security Disability (SSD) application process can be long and complex, and getting approved is not always easy. But the good news is, you do not have to go through this challenging process alone. To help individuals who are interested in applying for SSD benefits better understand the process, we discuss the basics here, and how an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer can help you.

Understanding the Basics of Social Security Disability (SSD)

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD) is a federal program designed to provide financial support to people who can no longer work due to a serious, long-term medical condition. To qualify for these important benefits, you must meet certain requirements. These requirements include:

• You must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents you from engaging in “substantial gainful activity;”
• Your condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death; and
• You must have enough work credits, which are based on how long you worked and paid into Social Security.

The requirements for a disability determination are strict, and many applicants are denied at the initial applications stage.

Why You May Need the Representation of an Experienced Social Security Disability Lawyer

The truth of the matter is that the majority of SSD applications are denied at the initial application stage. There are a number of common reasons that applications are denied at the initial application stage. Reasons for denial include lack of medical evidence, missed deadlines, misunderstanding of the disability criteria, incomplete or inaccurate paperwork, and other reasons for denial. An experienced Social Security Disability lawyer can help you avoid these pitfalls for the best chance of success in your case. An experienced Social Security Disability lawyer knows the ins-and-outs of the SSD rules and regulations and the process, and can fight to get your SSD benefits due to you.

Finding a Lawyer to Represent You in Your Social Security Disability Case

No person should have to navigate the complex and challenging Social Security Disability process alone. If you are interested in seeking SSD benefits, or if you have applied and you need help fighting to get SSD benefits due to you, do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer. The experienced Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law are here to help disabled individuals get important SSD benefits due to them. Contact Nationwide Disability Law today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.

Source:

ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/general-info.htm#:~:text=The%20law%20defines%20disability%20as,not%20less%20than%2012%20months.