If you have suffered a physical or mental impairment that has left you disabled, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. These benefits will be your lifeline. They will provide you with the funds you need to meet your basic needs, or at least they should. However, many Tennessee residents may find that getting approved for SSD benefits can take a while.
Want to know how the approval and claims process works? The truth is it can be a lot of back and forth, which is why it can take so long.
Getting started
To get started, you will need to file a claim for SSD benefits. You can do this online, over the phone, in person or by mail. They will ask a lot of questions of you. Failure to fill out an application in its entirety and include all the necessary supporting documentation could result in the denial of your request for benefits.
Filed, now what?
After you submit your application, it will go to a disability examiner for review. This individual will go over every single detail of your claim and even review your medical records. After the Social Security Administration makes its decision, you will receive a written notice of claim approval or denial.
What happens if they deny my claim?
Unfortunately, this happens quite a bit, and that is okay. Generally speaking, they deny claims due to a lack of supporting evidence. If this happens to you, you are well within your rights to appeal the decision.
If you do decide to appeal your claim, you will need to resubmit your case for review. A different disability examiner will take over your file and will likely ask you to provide further proof of your medical condition. If they have not approved your claim for a second time and you wish to appeal again, you will then get to present your case in front of a judge. This occurs in an informal setting, not in a courtroom.
Do I have to do this alone?
Getting SSD benefits is difficult for a reason; they want to make sure people are not abusing the system. That is understandable, but, at the same time, it really does make things harder for those individuals who really need the benefits now in order to survive.
Thankfully, if you are in need of SSD benefits, fighting for them is not something you have to do alone. Going up against the Social Security Administration can certainly be intimidating, but, with legal assistance, it does not have to be.