How can you get your Social Security Disability claim approved?

While the number of Social Security Disability Insurance applications has more than doubled since 1999, the rate being approved has dropped from over 50 percent to about 33 percent. That’s why it’s more important than ever to know the rules and take care when submitting an SSDI application.

By consulting with an experienced Alabama Social Security Disability attorney, you can determine whether you qualify for SSDI benefits and, if so, how to improve your chances of approval. By letting a professional help you instead of trying to do it yourself, you can save yourself time, money and stress in the long-run.

In some cases, people submit an application for SSDI when they don’t qualify for it, therefore wasting time and energy that could be better used seeking other sources of income or focusing on recovery. Following are some of the most common reasons that people don’t qualify for SSDI:

— Their condition doesn’t qualify as a disability under Social Security Administration guidelines. The SSA has a list of impairments that qualify, and the impairment must last for at 12 months or be expected to ultimately be fatal.– They have too much income and/or savings. This can include investment income, workers’ compensation and unemployment benefits (even if you’re getting these benefits temporarily).– They lack the necessary number of “working credits.” These are based on how long a person has been in the workforce, the amount they’ve earned (and therefore, the amount they’ve paid into the system) and their age.– They’re able to do a different job that’s related to their previous one. That determination is based largely on a person’s work history.

Too many people who are eligible for SSDI benefits are denied or their approval is delayed simply because they didn’t provide all of the necessary documents. Many of the necessary documents involve your medical condition. Others involve work history. Sometimes a simple error or failure to answer a question can delay the whole process.

The best way to improve your chances of approval is to submit as much information as you have to detail your condition and treatment and be ready to back up your case if necessary. As noted, an attorney experienced with SSDI application can be an invaluable asset.

Source: The Motley Fool, “8 Reasons Your Social Security Disability Claim Was Rejected,” accessed May 06, 2016