How to File for Social Security Disability 

If you are about to file for SSDI, Social Security Disability Insurance, likely, you are already feeling overwhelmed and confused. The good news is that you can get prepared in advance of your filing and have the documentation needed ready for the application process. 

You can file for SSDI online, over the phone, or in person, but no matter how you do it, you will need: 

• Records from all the doctors you’ve seen 
• Hospital records (relating to any stays) 

• Work history for the past 15 years 

Filing for Disability Benefits Online 

A lot of people prefer to file online because it means no waiting in lines, no confusing questions or risks of giving the wrong answers, and because it is just plain simpler to stay at home and do the paperwork. Additionally, the online process allows applicants to save their work and return to the application when they have retrieved missing details or information. 

Just remember to always jot down login information, as well as the application number given to you when you begin the process. 

To make the application online, you will need the details above, but most importantly, you need the current contact information for all of your doctors and hospitals. You need formal dates of employment (along with the names and contact information of the employers), any information relating to a spouse. You also have to supply routing information for the bank you will use for your income. 

Your Disability Onset Date 

One factor that makes many confused is the onset date of the disability. This is a crucial figure because it will have to be backed up by the medical records you supply, plus it relates to the period to which your back payments will begin. For example, if you claim to have experienced the disability a full year or more before applying, and the medical records demonstrate this to be true, you could get a full year (or more) of back payment if that onset date is accurate. 

Unfortunately, most disabilities don’t just begin on a specific date but will develop over time. Correctly choosing the date is hugely important as it relates to the benefits you will receive. The best way to choose the most accurate date is to use the medical evidence that supports it, such as a hospital admission or a formal diagnosis of a medical issue by an expert. 

Get Ready to Appeal 

Can you be denied based on your application? Yes, and you can also appeal to the SSA for a reconsideration. In fact, that is the very first step to take if you have initially been denied on your application. You can ask for the original filing to be reviewed, or you can request a reconsideration of a continuing disability claim (i.e. to have your benefits continued). From there, things can become quite confusing with options for a hearing before an administrative law judge, a hearing with an appeals council, and even federal court reviews.