Applying for Social Security Disability can be difficult sometimes if you’re attempting to do so on your own. If you’re trouble navigating the application, you may save yourself a lot of time in the long run by just calling an experienced Social Security Disability attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks to help you. That’s where we come in. At Deputy & Mizell, L.L.C., we take great pride in giving you personalized attention. We understand how challenging it is to live with disabilities that prevent you from working, and we have the experience it takes to get the disability benefits that you deserve. With that in mind, keep reading this week’s blog for some helpful facts when it comes to applying for Social Security Disability.
Helpful Facts When It Comes To Applying for Social Security Disability
SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS APPROPRIATELY.
Once you apply, it typically takes 90 to 120 days for the Social Security Administration to review your claim and either approve or deny your application. It is important to remember that approximately only 30 percent of Social Security disability applications are approved at this stage. If you are approved, you will begin receiving disability benefits.
When applying for benefits, it is important to keep in mind that there are many cases in which claims are initially rejected. Do not be discouraged. Talk to a social security lawyer at Deputy & Mizell, L.L.C. before and after submitting your claim.
GET YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION TOGETHER BEFORE YOU APPLY.
It is extremely important to be prepared before applying for disability. A lot of disability claims are denied because the claimant did not fill out the application completely or accurately. Social security adjudicators and Administrative Law Judges give substantial weight to medical records. So before you apply, it is crucial to make a list of all the names and addresses of the medical providers and doctors you have sought treatment from for your disability. Also, make a list of all the prescription medications you take and every place you worked in the last 15 years prior to applying for disability.
IF YOU HAVE TO APPEAL, KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
When you appeal your case, you can request an in-person hearing or a Virtual Teleconference Hearing.
- If you choose a Virtual Teleconference Hearing, your hearing could be at a local Social Security Administration Office. In this part of the state, these types of hearings take place at the Social Security Administration offices in Jefferson City, Lebanon, and Sedalia
- If you choose an in-person hearing, it will be held at an Office of Adjudication and Review (ODAR). In this part of the state, in-person hearings are held at the ODAR location in Columbia.
If you have an in-person hearing, it will take place in a courtroom that is much smaller than a courtroom you would see at a county courthouse. There will be an administrative law judge, a court reporter, and a vocational expert in the courtroom. The court reporter will swear you and the vocational expert in, and the hearing will begin. The administrative law judge will have already reviewed your file with all of your medical records and will ask you questions about your past work, your physical and mental limitations, your daily activities, and your social life.
After you are done testifying, the administrative law judge will then ask the vocational expert hypothetical questions about what jobs a person with your disabilities could perform. You will then have a chance to cross-examine or ask the vocational expert follow-up questions.
The Administrative Law Judge will not make a ruling at the end of the hearing. It typically takes three to six months to receive the final decision.
Need Help Applying For Social Security Disability?
Remember, having an EXPERIENCED Social Security Disability lawyer at the Lake of the Ozarks assist you when applying for Social Security Disability can make ALL the difference. For help with this important task, call Deputy and Mizell at 573-346-9990. Your initial consultation is free.
Contact Deputy & Mizell, LLC to schedule your private (FREE) consultation today.
Representing Clients Across the Lake of the Ozarks Region
Lebanon: 417-532-2191
Camdenton: 573-346-9990