Many people unable to work at their jobs apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Of those applicants, many expect to be turned down because that is just the way things are with the Social Security Administration (SSA). It can be very difficult, after all, to explain to the SSA why your medical condition prevents you from performing the tasks of your most recent job. When you are turned down, you will receive a letter from the SSA in the mail and it's vital that you understand the information contained in the letter. Read on and find out more.
Get a Clue
It's easy to feel an overwhelming sense of disappointment and then puzzlement as you begin to read the SSDI denial letter. Things are not explained in a straightforward manner, and a lot of the letter contains unfamiliar terms and phrases. The very thing most SSDI applicants want to know most is why they were turned down for benefits. Unfortunately, that information is not always clear. To help you figure out what you are reading, take a look at two common SSA buzzwords and phrases often found in these letters:
- Does not meet an impairment listing – This is referring to the SSA's so-called blue book, a listing of covered medical conditions. Not only should the condition you have be listed, but it should also match the listing's requirements.
- Non-severe – The SSA requires that the medical condition or impairment be severe. That means it is serious enough to keep you from doing many of your job tasks and that it has lasted for a certain length of time or is expected to last that long.
While the above are two of the most common reasons for a denial, there can be more. You should also know that many denial reasons provided by the SSA are not necessarily grounds for denying you benefits. It usually only means that the SSA has made that determination based on the information they had at the time. After reading the letter, you might wish you could explain things in person. Fortunately, you will have an opportunity to do just that at your appeal hearing.
Appeal Hearings and Legal Representation
Your first step after you receive your letter is to make an appointment with a Social Security lawyer. They can help you interpret the letter, gather evidence to support your disability, and stand with you at your hearing so that you can have your benefits approved. Lots of people get turned down for SSDI benefits every day. Not everyone, though, is smart enough to take a lawyer with them to the hearing. You will find your chances of getting an approval will become three times as likely.
Learn more from a Social Security attorney.
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