After years of dedication to your job and career – contributing to your workplace and supporting yourself and your family – you could experience an injury or disability that keeps you from working for an extended period. If you’ve reached such a moment in your life, even if it’s not permanent, you might be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Receiving these benefits, though, isn’t guaranteed if you make a mistake in filing for them. That’s why it’s necessary to understand why keeping track of medical evidence and expenses is so important for SSD benefits.
DENIAL DUE TO MEDICAL RECORDS
The most important reason to keep track of all medical records, including evidence of disability and billing information, is that you may be denied Social Security Disability benefits without them. About 65 percent of initial disability claims are denied. Often it’s because of missing medical evidence. It’s clear that you don’t want anything lacking in the records you provide.
So holding on to all of your records is crucial as you go through the application process. Many people end up needing a Social Security Disability attorney after a denial based on medical evidence. Legal professionals have experience getting appropriate records to prove your case. But having as many records as possible easily available can help a lot as you work with a representative.
The main thing to remember is that if you don’t have medical evidence proving you can’t work, you will be denied benefits.
IF YOU DON’T QUALIFY, MEDICAL RECORDS STILL HELP
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a large list of disabilities that qualify for benefits. If your medical impairment is on this list, you most likely are eligible. Even if you still receive a denial of Social Security Disability benefits, having one of the listed conditions could make the appeals process run much more smoothly. If your injury or disability isn’t listed with the SSA, though, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t still receive compensation.
Getting denied because your injury isn’t listed with the SSA makes your Social Security Disability medical evidence even more important. This is because you still may qualify for a provision called a medical vocational allowance. If the SSA finds you’re unable to return to same the type of work you’re accustomed to or another job you’re capable of, the agency might grant benefits anyway.
Whether you’re denied due to a lack of medical evidence or because your disability isn’t listed, the most important thing is not to give up.
GOING THROUGH THE APPEALS PROCESS
If you are denied Social Security Disability benefits, it’s important to keep in mind you probably can’t change the results without any new evidence. This is where it can make a big difference to have an advocate who helps with your appeal. An experienced Social Security Disability attorney will review why you were denied. They can gather more evidence and guide you through the first step of appeals, called a reconsideration.
If the reconsideration doesn’t result in a fair outcome, the next step is requesting a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. In fact, the appeals process can go all the way up to a federal court. Because you have all of these appeals options, you should never accept a “no” answer when seeking the benefits you deserve.
At Levine Benjamin, our attorneys can help find Social Security Disability medical evidence you may have overlooked. You’re far more likely to receive benefits if you have representation on your case. Contact us today so we can review your case and help you reach the right results.
