If SSA tries to send you for an evaluation
with a doctor, OR you receive a denial from SSA, that is the time to contact
an attorney. The general rule is that it is better to contact
us earlier rather than later.
How do I apply for Social Security disability
benefits?
You can apply online at
www.ssa.gov. You can also call the Social
Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. When you call, you will be given
the option of 1) going to the social security office to apply for benefits
or 2) having your application taken over the telephone.
First, make sure that you keep your
appointment with Social Security and apply for benefits as soon as
possible. Bring as many medical records as you can to your
appointment. Ask your doctor(s) to respond as quickly as possible
to SSA's requests for information. Make a list of the names and
addresses of all the doctors, hospitals or clinics that have treated
you for your disabling condition(s).
How many different types of Social Security
disability benefits are there?
There are four major types of Social
Security disability benefits.
1) Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDI) goes to people who have worked in
recent years (five out of the last 10 years in most cases) and who are now
disabled.
2) Disabled Widow’s and Widower’s Benefits are paid to people who are at
least 50 and become disabled within a certain amount of time after the death
of their husband or wife. The deceased husband or wife must have worked
enough to be insured under Social Security.
3) Disabled Adult Child Benefits go to the children of persons who are
deceased or who are receiving Social Security disability or retirement
benefits. The child must have become disabled before age 22. For SSDI,
Disabled Widow’s or Widower’s Benefits and Disabled Adult Child benefits, it
does not matter whether the disabled person is rich or poor. Benefits are
paid based upon a Social Security earnings record.
4) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, however, are paid to
individuals who are poor and who are disabled. It does not matter for SSI
whether a person has worked in the past or not. SSI children’s benefits are
a type of SSI benefits paid to disabled children under 18.
What are the
biggest mistakes people make when trying to get disability benefits?
Failing to appeal. More than half of the
people whose applications are denied fail to appeal. Many people who are
denied on reconsideration fail to request a hearing.
Another mistake is failing to get good medical care. Some people with
long-term chronic medical problems feel that they have not been helped much
by doctors. Thus, for the most part, they stop going for treatment. This is
a mistake for both medical and legal reasons. First, no one needs good
medical care more than those with chronic medical problems. Second, medical
treatment records provide the most important evidence of disability in a
Social Security case.
The third biggest mistake is waiting too
long to file an application for benefits. Waiting too long to file after you've
become disabled will most likely cost you benefits.
Our lawyers handle all types
of claims for Social Security Disability - Social Security Disability
Insurance, Supplemental Security Income,
children's Supplemental Security Income. We also handle appeals - to the Appeals Council and Federal Court.
If you want to speak to a lawyer in Colorado
Springs about
your Social Security disability case, you have several
options-you can fill out our online
Social Security evaluation form,
call
us, or
e-mail
us, and a Colorado Springs attorney will evaluate your case for FREE.
We
have many clients from around Southern Colorado including Alamosa, Buena Vista, Colorado
Springs, Durango,
Salida, Lamar, La Junta, Pueblo and Walsenburg.
We have helped thousands of people just
like you get the benefits they deserve.
