The Social Security Administration (SSA) processes millions of disability claims each and every year. It is not surprising that it can take months or even years for the SSA to process a claim for Social Security Disability benefits. Many applicants find the wait to be frustrating, wondering what can possibly be taking so long and why they have not received an answer regarding the status of their disability application. Contacting the SSA to get updates regarding your disability claim can help alleviate some of the frustration caused by this process. In fact, calling to get status updates may actually expedite the disability claim process for some applicants. If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits and are tired of feeling as though you are being left in the dark regarding the status of your application, the following information can help you understand what is required to get updates regarding your Social Security Disability or SSI case.
Obtain the Contact Information for Your Local Social Security Office
You will want to obtain the contact information for your local Social Security Office in order to get status updates regarding your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. The SSA does offer a toll-free 800 number, but it has been reported that applicants who call this number often receive incorrect or outdated application information. It is better to contact your local Social Security Office directly in order to obtain accurate updates regarding your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. There is nothing worse than being told by the attendants at the 800 number that the SSA has everything needed to process your disability application, only to find out weeks later that you actually needed to get additional information into the Social Security Office.
Calling to Get Updates Regarding Your Claim
Once you have obtained the contact information for your local Social Security Office, you should call the office regularly to get status updates regarding your Social Security Disability claim. The first call should take place approximately 30 days after your application for benefits has been submitted. By this time the SSA should have all of the paperwork necessary to process your disability claim. If there is any paperwork missing, your local Social Security Office will be able to advise you of this fact during your call. If this is the case, you should do whatever you can to help the SSA obtain the records and information they are still missing.
During your request for status updates, you may be notified that you will be required to go for a consultative exam. If this is the case, make sure that you attend the exam and call the Social Security Office again approximately two weeks after the exam has been completed to get another status update.
If you know that the SSA has received all of the paperwork necessary to process your claim for Social Security Disability benefits and it has been two weeks since you have attended your consultative exam, you may want to call the Social Security Office on a weekly basis to keep on top of the status of your claim.
An Alternative Contact for Status Updates
In addition to the local Social Security Office, you may want to contact the local state agency that is processing your claim. Your local Social Security Office can provide you with the phone number of the state agency that is responsible for your Social Security Disability application. While the state agency can not give you an actual notice of approval or denial, they can let you know if the SSA has all of the information needed to complete your claim or if they are waiting for additional records and documentation.
When Working with an Attorney
If you are working with a Social Security Disability attorney, you should not contact the Social Security Office directly for any status updates. Instead, you should contact your attorney in order to obtain updates regarding the status of your disability case. Your attorney will contact the SSA for you, obtaining any updates regarding the status of your Social Security Disability claim and advising you accordingly with the information he or she has received.
