If you’re applying for Social Security disability benefits, it’s important to manage your expectations. The Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews every application carefully, with upwards of 70% of applicants receiving denials when they initially file for benefits.
A disability denial doesn’t mean you can’t receive disability benefits later. You can appeal the SSA’s decision, boosting your odds of eventually receiving an approval.
You may nevertheless have questions about how some people who apply for SSDI receive approvals upon their first attempts. This overview will cover what you need to know.
How Are Some People Approved For Benefits On the First Try?
Again, very few SSDI applicants receive approvals on the first try. However, there are still some that do. Those who do receive first-round approvals may do so because of such factors as:
- Having particularly severe conditions or conditions that are likely to result in death within six months
- Having sufficient work credits to qualify for disability benefits
- Providing thorough medical documentation with an initial application
Often, those who receive first-try approvals for disability benefits applications also work with disability attorneys or advocates. Although a lawyer can’t ethically guarantee that a client will receive an approval when they apply for benefits, their guidance can play a key role in a case’s outcome given the fact that lawyers possess a familiarity with the overall approval process.
How Can I Get Approved For Benefits?
There are various steps you can take to improve your chances of receiving an approval when you apply for disability benefits. They include:
- Continuing to undergo medical care and treatments per your doctor’s recommendations
- Gathering sufficient medical evidence to demonstrate that you have a real disability interfering with your ability to work
- Ensuring you have enough work credits
- Enlisting the help of an SSDI attorney or advocate
What Happens If I Am Not Approved For Disability Benefits On the First Time?
Don’t worry if the SSA doesn’t approve your application for Social Security disability benefits on your first try. Remember, this is a common experience.
The next step is to proceed with an appeal. Don’t make the mistake of starting over from scratch with a new application! Starting a new application could result in you having to wait even longer to receive disability benefits.
Instead, you should file a request for reconsideration. This gives you the opportunity to provide additional medical evidence and other information/documentation that may support your claim.
Get Connected With an Attorney
This information isn’t meant to worry you! Although your odds of receiving an approval when you first apply for disability benefits may be slim, there are instances in which applicants do receive approvals on the first try. And, even when an applicant receives a denial, they may still receive an approval when they file an appeal.
Keep in mind that you can hire a disability lawyer at any stage in the process. Even if you didn’t hire one when you first filed an application, you can still hire a lawyer when you appeal the SSA’s decision.
Get started today by completing the Free Case Evaluation form on this page and we’ll get you connected with a participating disability lawyer who is accepting cases in your area and can help you—at zero cost to you.
