It’s a well-known fact that a large majority of applicants are denied in their initial application for social security disability benefits. This may seem unfair and in many circumstances it is, but there are many things that are in your control which can improve your chances of getting approved. It’s critical that you understand the requirements which are being evaluated and you take the time to prepare your application before turning it in. Rushing your application in hopes of a quick approval is clearly not the best way to get your benefits. By quickly filling out your application you are actually hurting your chances of a quick turnaround time.

You don’t want to delay when applying, but you do need to take the time to prepare a well thought application. It usually takes the social security administration up to 6 months to finalize a decision so you do want to file the application close to the date when you have become disabled. Some cases will approved in as little as 2 months, but the time-frame for a decision can be anywhere from 2-7 months. The Disability Determination Services will be the first to review your application to see if your disability is valid and they will also check other factors such as your age, your employment status, if you have collected social security disability benefits in the past, and your marital situation. If your application passes this initial screening it will be passed off to the state level where they will take a closer inspection of your medical records.

The state will take a fine-tooth comb when looking over your medical records to make sure that you are indeed eligible to receive the benefits. This is where most applicants are denied and it is the most crucial hurdle to jump. This is where your planning and preparation can really help you get approved and decrease the approval time. Having an experienced The Clark Law Office - Top rated social security attorneys in Lansing, MI help collect and organize your medical records can pay huge dividends. Even with meticulous preparation, it is possible that you will get wrongfully denied. It’s important to stay the course, because most of the time an appeal of the denial will result in a much better success rate. It’s a good thing that the process is well enforced because paying out disability benefits for every applicant would dry up the well quickly so to speak. This keeps applicants who really don’t deserve disability benefits taking the funds away from legitimate claims.

If in fact you are denied initially, you will most likely need to take your case to an appeals judge to argue your case. You need to show that you are in need of SSD or SSDI and your medical records show this clearly. This administrative law judge will determine your fate, and it is highly recommended to hire an attorney who has gone through this process often and knows what it takes to win your social security disability benefits. Hopefully this gives you a better idea of what it takes to successfully receive your benefits, just remember to take the time to properly fill out your application given the requirements and the complicated approval process.