Often, people think of retirement when they think of Social Security. However, for those who have a disability that prevents them from working long-term, Social Security disability benefits can be the only dependable income source to help them deal with financial challenges of living without earned income.
Over the last 15 years, the need for disability benefits has grown. However, approval rates for disability benefits have plummeted according to recent figures from the Social Security Administration. Now, almost two-thirds of all applications for Social Security disability get denied.
Since 1999, the number of application has more than doubled. In 2009 and 2010, applications hit new peaks and the claim volume has only moderately leveled out. The Social Security Administration accepted more than half of all applications for disability in 1999, but the rate of approval dropped to 33.5 percent last year.
Why has the approval rate dropped? Well, there is a misunderstanding of when Social Security disability benefits come into play. In order to be eligible, a person has to have a disability that lasts longer than a year and leaves a person unable to do the work the person did before or to adjust to other types of work. The Social Security Administration looks at a person’s ability to earn money from other employment as well as the severity of the disability and any specific medical conditions that caused it. The Social Security Administration also makes judgment calls about whether different, but related jobs could be options for you.
Even if an applicant’s situation does qualify them for Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security Administration often rejects disability claims because of simple technical errors. This sometimes means they omitted required information or provided insufficient explanations. By collecting as much medical documentation as possible as well as work records can be helpful.
When applying for benefits, it doesn’t hurt to enlist the help of an expert who understands the process. This can increase a person’s chances of getting approved.
If you have a disability and need help applying for Social Security Benefits, contact the Dakota Center for Independent Living
Phone: 701-222-3636
3111 E. Broadway Ave
Bismarck, ND 58501