If you live in California and have a disability that is severe enough to prevent you from working and supporting yourself, you may be considering applying for Social Security Disability Insurance from the U.S. Social Security Administration. The application process is often complicated and commonly misunderstood, however, and many applicants make errors when applying that can hurt their chances of approval. At Kampf, Schiavone & Associates, we have a comprehensive understanding of the SSDI benefit application process, and we have helped many clients in similar situations apply for benefits or appeal an SSA denial.
According to Everyday Health, one thing you should know before applying for SSDI benefits is that the more information and documentation you have from physicians about your condition, the better your chances of approval. Please note, however, that your doctor’s word alone is not always enough to prove your disability is severe enough to warrant SSDI benefit assistance, and that it is up to the SSA to issue the final decision.
It is also important to note that, if the SSA approves your claim, you may have to wait a certain amount of time before you start to receive benefits. Typically, the process can take somewhere between three and five months, so you can typically anticipate your first payment, if approved, to come about six months after your effective disability date.
Yet another common misconception about SSDI benefits is that once you receive approval, you will receive them for the duration of your life. Ultimately, this depends on whether your condition may improve. Typically, SSDI benefit recipients must undergo review every so often to determine continued benefit eligibility. You can find out more about work-related injuries on our webpage.
