If you decide to handle your disability case on your own, here are some tips to help increase your chances of having your claim approved:
1. Be as thorough as possible with your initial application.
List all your doctors, medications, medical conditions, and background. Sometimes you may or may not realize that all your conditions combine to make you unable to work, in the eyes of Social Security.
2. Immediately appeal if your case is denied.
Most cases are initially denied. This does not mean you will not eventually win your case. We find many successful cases need to be appealed twice in order to have a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, and to eventually be successful. If you do not appeal, and just re-apply, you are possibly losing out on some back pay. You can ask for an attorney’s help during any part of the process.
3. Focus on activity limitations and not your diagnosis.
Disability claims are primarily about what limitations your condition causes that prevent you from being able to work - not a medical diagnosis. You will need to include a medical diagnosis, but you are only disabled if your limitations prevent you from working. It is important that when you see your doctor, you make sure that you are clear about how your conditions limit your activities, and report your symptoms, including any side effects from medication. NEVER TELL YOUR DOCTOR YOU ARE DOING FINE OR OK! The judge is scrolling through your medical records and noting each time you say you are fine, ok, or not having problems.
4. Focus only on Your Immediate Past Job or Your Own Work.
So many times, disability claimants claim they cannot do their past work - such as maintenance technician, auto mechanic, or welder. But, when asked if they could perform a sit-down job, they will readily agree they can probably do it. Here's the issue - if you can do other work, you will likely lose your case! SSA doesn't care if the other work pays substantially less than what you were making. You ultimately need to prove you cannot perform any work.
5. Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations.
Follow all the treatment recommendations made by your doctor, including taking medication as prescribed. Make sure you attend all scheduled appointments and follow through with the treatment or testing prescribed. If your doctor tells you to take medication or go to therapy AND you don't, you are giving SSA an easy reason to deny your case. If you cannot follow your doctor's orders for any reason - financial, too painful, can't find a ride, whatever - talk to your doctor about it and try to find an alternative.
6. Hire a lawyer.
Even though you may think you are eligible to receive disability benefits because you have a condition that keeps you from working, this doesn’t mean you will get the benefits automatically.
SSDI denials are as high as they have ever been. You should speak to an attorney to see if your case is too complex to risk going it alone.
SSA even acknowledges how important having a representative is to the process. SSA's own numbers show having an attorney help you through the process results in a 3X better chance of winning!
Remember - there is no cost or obligation to speak to my team about your case. And, you only pay a fee when we win your case.