Life with a disability carries its own set of challenges, so you deserve to enjoy the benefits that Social Security offers. Once you fill out an application for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) it usually takes 3-5 months to be processed and an initial decision to be made. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not have a deadline to follow so it may take much longer. Decision times vary at each stage of the process and the nature of your disability can also be a big determining factor. Another factor is how long it takes the SSA to receive your medial records from your treating doctors. The SSA may also require you to go for a medial examination from a specific doctor that they assign.
Filing your application as early as possible is recommended since you may likely have to wait several months. Contacting an experienced attorney to represent you and walk you through the process can help alleviate stress and make the process much less overwhelming.
Although an attorney cannot make the SSA decide your claim faster, there are some ways to help speed up the process. Accurately completing your paperwork and promptly responding to any requests from the SSA may help reduce some delay.
Some addition ways to speed up the decision making process are:
1. Retain an Attorney Who Specializes in SSD
Life with a disability carries its own set of challenges, so you deserve to enjoy the benefits that Social Security offers. Hiring an Attorney who firmly believes in helping you receive all the support you are owed, and you can trust to protect your rights to benefits is highly recommended. An Attorney who specializes in SSD can put up a tough and aggressive fight on your behalf to defend your right to disability benefits. No one should be taken advantage of by the law.
2.Request an On the Record Decision (OTR)
An OTR decision is a favorable ruling by an administrative law judge (ALJ) that is made prior to a hearing at the SSA. This decision is based on the written information that is provided to the judge before your hearing and is based on your medical records. OTR reviews are available to anyone appealing an initial denial based on their application. For this request to be successful you have to have enough medical evidence to prove you are disabled without the need for additional information. It is best to have an attorney file for an OTR on your behalf.
3. Request an Attorney Advisor Decision.
To be eligible for an attorney advisor to review your claim, you must have already requested a hearing after being initially denied SSD/SSI benefits. The SSA requires one of the following reasons when asking for an attorney advisor review of your case.
- You submitted new evidence that is relevant to your claim since your initial denial.
- You can show there is new evidence to help your claim that has not yet been submitted.
- There was a change in the law that may help you win your case.
- A mistake was made in your file.
4. Compassionate Allowances List. The Social Security Administrations Compassionate Allowance Program consists of a specific list of severe conditions or diseases that can qualify you for rapid consideration of your SSD/SSI claim so you can quickly get the support you need. For more information please click here: https://www.rubinandbadamelaw.com/social-security-disability/compassionate-allowances/
5.Terminal Illness.
The SSA defines terminal illness as “a medical condition that is untreatable and expected to result in death.” An applicant does not have to state on the application that the illness is terminal for it to be expedited under the TERI program. An SSA claims representative can send a claim into the TERI program when a doctor or someone close to the claimant states that that the illness is expected to result in death or when the claimant is receiving hospice care.
6. Presumptive Disability/Presumptive Blindness.
A claimant applying for SSI based on their disability or blindness, may receive up to 6 months of payments prior to the final determination of disability or blindness if he/she is found to be presumptively disabled (PD) or blind (PB) and meets all eligibility requirements. In order to make this finding, your evidence must reflect a high degree of probability that the claimant’s impairment(s) meets the SSA definition of disability or blindness.
7. Dire Need
A dire need request is submitted prior to a schedule3d hearing with an ALJ. If approved, the hearing is moved ahead of others not in dire need. Dire need requests are mainly approved when a claimant can’t pay their rent/mortgage and is about to be evicted or if the claimant is unable to pay for utilities.
Life with a disability carries its own set of challenges, so you deserve to enjoy the benefits that Social Security offers. Our lawyers firmly believe in helping you receive all the support you are owed, and you can trust us to protect your rights to benefits. We are deeply compassionate, sincere, and friendly representatives, but we can also put up a tough and aggressive fight on your behalf to defend your right to disability benefits. We aim to protect those who have been wronged, and no one should be taken advantage of by the law.