No one wants to need disability benefits, but there may come a point in time when you do. You can find disability offices in every state, but do you know how and where to apply for disability benefits if you or someone in your family needs them?
Maybe you’re not sure about applying for disability. Will you qualify? Will it be worth your effort to apply? Or will you be wasting your time and theirs? Unfortunately, there aren’t any easy answers to any of these questions. The only way you’ll find out is to try.
Before you can qualify for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) you must meet particular work requirements. In other words, you have to have worked long enough to have paid a certain amount of Social Security taxes. You also have to be disabled for at least five months before applying.
Social Security Insurance, on the other hand, is set up for those in financial need. There is no requirement for them to ever have worked or paid Social Security taxes. Their qualification is based on their need for help and their family’s financial situation.
To find a Social Security office near you, check your local telephone book. If there is an office nearby, it will be listed in the Government section of the phone book. You may also call 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 if you have a hearing problem.
The person you reach can answer questions you may have, set up an appointment, and even take your claim over the telephone. Be prepared to spend at least an hour on the phone if you choose this option as the interview process takes at least that long.
Once you have made an appointment, a Disability Starter Kit will be mailed to you. The kit must be filled out so you can be prepared for your claims interview. You can also apply online at socialsecurity.gov/disability if you have access to the internet.
When applying for disability benefits, you will need to have quite a bit of information. The more information you can have at the initial visit, the sooner a determination can be made. If certain information is found to be missing during your interview, they will have to wait until you supply it to be able to decide if you qualify.
The following is a list of things you’ll need to provide either as originals or copies:
* Social Security number
* Birth or baptismal certificate
* Marriage certificate or divorce decree
* Names, addresses and phone numbers of the doctors, caseworkers, hospitals and clinics you’ve seen and the dates of your visits
* Names and dosage of all the medicine you take
* Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers (if applicable)
* Laboratory and test results
* A summary of where you have worked and the kind of work you did
* A copy of your most recent W-2 Form or your federal tax return for the past year if you are self-employed
It can take five or more months for a disability claim to be processed, so try not to get too worried about not hearing quickly. They will call you if they need further information or if they need you to clarify anything.
You may initially be denied, but you can appeal the decision if you feel you qualify. You may also choose to hire a lawyer to represent you if you’re denied more than once and still feel the decision to disqualify you is wrong.
You hope you’ll never need it, but it is helpful to know how and where to apply for disability benefits. You may even want to pull together some of the information you’ll need such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate and keep them stored in a safe place. This may help you be more prepared should you ever need to apply for SSDI or SSI benefits.
