DON'T GET DERAILED - WIN YOUR SSDI

I want to talk about 5 things that can derail your Social Security disability claim. My purpose is to help you avoid these dangers so you can win your claim and get paid.

1. TRUSTING SOCIAL SECURITY. Don't believe that Social Security will take care of everything for you, not make any mistakes, and always give you a fair shake. For the most part, they are out to deny your claim and will do so at every opportunity. Double check everything and document well. Be especially careful with deadlines. Check on the status of your case often. If long periods of time go by without hearing from Social Security, call them. Call back if necessary.

2. FAILING TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUR CLAIM. Be proactive with getting your doctor's records and other medical records. Sure, Social Security will attempt to get all your records. However, if they don't receive the records after one or two requests, they may give up and issue a bad decision without all of the records. Call your doctor and other providers and be sure they send in records.

3. WORKING AFTER YOU FILE FOR BENEFITS. Social Security disability benefits are designed by law for individuals who are unable to work. Nothing proves that you CAN work like working. Get some advice before you return to work, even part-time, after you file a claim. Working may disqualify you from getting any benefits.

4. ACCEPTING SOCIAL SECURITY'S WORD THAT YOU DON'T QUALIFY. 77 percent of disability claims are denied in Tennessee each year, and Alabama denies a similar number. The truth is, a lot of these claims can and will be approved if you appeal. Most claims require not one but 2 appeals: Ask for Reconsideration, and when denied at that step, ask for a hearing before a judge. Persistence pays off. Giving up does not.

5. I want to talk about 5 things that can derail your Social Security disability claim. My purpose is to help you avoid these dangers so you can win your claim and get paid.TRUSTING SOCIAL SECURITY. Don't believe that Social Security will take care of everything for you, not make any mistakes, and always give you a fair shake. For the most part, they are out to deny your claim and will do so at every opportunity. Double check everything and document well. Be especially careful with deadlines. Check on the status of your case often. If long periods of time go by without hearing from Social Security, call them. Call back if necessary. FAILING TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUR CLAIM. Be proactive with getting your doctor's records and other medical records. Sure, Social Security will attempt to get all your records. However, if they don't receive the records after one or two requests, they may give up and issue a bad decision without all of the records. Call your doctor and other providers and be sure they send in records.WORKING AFTER YOU FILE FOR BENEFITS. Social Security disability benefits are designed by law for individuals who are unable to work. Nothing proves that you CAN work like working. Get some advice before you return to work, even part-time, after you file a claim. Working may disqualify you from getting any benefits.ACCEPTING SOCIAL SECURITY'S WORD THAT YOU DON'T QUALIFY. 77 percent of disability claims are denied in Tennessee each year, and Alabama denies a similar number. The truth is, a lot of these claims can and will be approved if you appeal. Most claims require not one but 2 appeals: Ask for Reconsideration, and when denied at that step, ask for a hearing before a judge. Persistence pays off. Giving up does not. FAILURE TO ASK FOR HELP. Many claimants are over-confident as they go into disability claims. Somehow, we want to believe that Social Security won't do to us what they do to other people. We think our case is different. If you go into a hearing believing this and get denied, it is too late. There remains no good option at that point. The hearing is your one chance to win, your best chance, and perhaps your only chance. Get a lawyer or advocate who will work for you on a contingency fee: either you win or you don't pay a fee. So there's no chance of running up a big legal bill, then losing. You are protected either way.Social Security applications and appeals are not what you think they are. They are harder, more confusing, more complicated, more frustrating, and more prone to disaster than you think. By the time you realize it, it may be too late.SOCIAL SECURITY DOES NOT GIVE SECOND CHANCES. o to other people. We think our case is different. If you go into a hearing believing this and get denied, it is too late. There remains no good option at that point. The hearing is your one chance to win, your best chance, and perhaps your only chance. Get a lawyer or advocate who will work for you on a contingency fee: either you win or you don't pay a fee. So there's no chance of running up a big legal bill, then losing. You are protected either way.

I have never had a client who won their case tell me that they think they could have won all on their own. Not one. I have never had an individual who LOST their case fail to say that they wish they had got some help while there was still time. Not one.

Social Security applications and appeals are not what you think they are. They are harder, more confusing, more complicated, more frustrating, and more prone to disaster than you think. By the time you realize it, it may be too late. Talk to experts. Get advice. Knowledge is POWER.

SOCIAL SECURITY DOES NOT GIVE SECOND CHANCES.