Everyone makes mistakes. Making a mistake on your Social Security disability claim, however, can cost you tens of thousands of dollars and endless delay in getting benefits.
Here are some of the mistakes we see on disability claims that should be avoided at all costs:
1. Missing Deadlines. Social Security is a very slow system and we all get tired of waiting on them. However, if you miss a deadline, the system can be very unforgiving. For example, if you fail to file an appeal within the required deadline, your right to appeal dies and the denial becomes the final decision for that filing.
2. Improper Forms. There are more forms in a disability application than most people have ever dealt with in their entire lives. The forms are confusing and complex. Incorrect or incomplete forms become evidence in your case and follow you for months or years, even into the appeal process.
3. Not Asking Your Doctor for Help. Your doctor can be very influential and a great ally. Talk to him or her. Ask if the doctor will support your disability claim. A detailed Residual Functional Capacity report by the doctor can go a long way toward getting your application approved.
4. Failure to Appeal. Over 75 percent of disability applications are denied. That's right, about 3 out of 4 will be denied. Many of these denials are mistakes. Mistakes get corrected in the appeal process. Yet, we see individuals who give up without appealing their denials. Most of the approved claims we see today are the result of the appeal process, not the application process. By all means, appeal.
5. Not Getting an Attorney/Advocate. There are 2 powerful reasons why you should get an advocate:
A. It costs you nothing unless you win.
B. Represented claimants are much more likely to win than those who are unrepresented.
No comments:
Post a Comment