When To Apply For Disability Benefits & How To Get Started

Starting the process to apply for disability benefits is determined by:

• Your medical treatment history;
• The seriousness of your injury or illness;
• Your medical team’s belief that you’re not going to be able to return to your work on a full-time basis;
• And more…

Social security disability programs are set up for people who have limitations that prevent them from being able to support themselves through work. Therefore, it can never be “too late” to apply.

However, if you think that you may need to apply for these programs, you shouldn’t wait to find out whether or not you qualify…

To qualify for Title II Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you must have “insured status” that is gained by paying into the system. That insured status can expire so you need to be careful not to delay filing if you have to stop working, due to an illness or an injury.

This is because when you’re not working, you’re not paying into the system that will provide you with the benefits you need later on. After five years of not paying into the system, you will lose your insured status.

An example of this would be if you worked from 18 years of age until 48 years of age (30 years total) and then you quit working to take care of an elderly parent. Say that when you reached the age of 52, you were planning to go back to work, but you got into a terrible accident.

If you were to wait to file your Title II disability claim for a full year after your accident, the results could be terrible. You may find out too late that you have lost your insured status, that you are no longer vested in Title II disability, and that your ability to get the benefits you need has been barred.

So, if you’re dealing with a mental or physical impairment that prevents you from going back to work, you should speak with an SSD attorney as soon as possible.

What You Need To Start The Social Security Disability Application Process

To start an SSD application you are going to need the names and addresses of medical providers you have seen, as well as the approximate dates of services for all the medical treatment you have received.

When completing your application, you will need to document and describe:

• Your work history;
• A list of all your former (or current) employers;
• The type(s) of work that you have done for the last 15 years;
• All your personal information, including dates of birth, social security number, and addresses;
• The names, addresses, doctors, hospitals, and clinics you have been to;
• And more…

Then, you’ll provide information about vocational questions and the physical requirements of your past and current job(s), such as:

• How long are you required to sit?
• How long are you required to stand?
• Are you required to lift anything? If so, what was the weight of that item?
• Are you required to carry anything? If so, what was the weight of that item?
• Do you have to bend at the waist or knee repeatedly?
• What common skills are involved with your job?
• Were you a manager?
• Were you in charge of scheduling?
• Were you in charge of the hiring and firing?
• And more…

How An Attorney Can Help With Your Disability Application

The sooner you get an attorney with experience in disability law, the better it is for your claim.

The SSD benefits application process can be difficult for anybody to navigate. There are many deadlines along the way that can be missed, and this can cause procedural problems that prevent you from being able to go forward in your case.

Having representation from the start can give you the confidence of knowing that deadlines will be met and that you have the right evidence to assure that your case has the best opportunity to be successful.

What’s more, working with an attorney early on can help you find relief from the stress of the claims process. From answering any of your questions, working with you to put the best application forward, and more – an attorney will give you the best chance to find benefits as soon as possible.

For more information on Social Security Disability Law In Arkansas, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (866) 253-2226 today.