Attorney or Paralegal?

4 Reasons You Could Be Denied Social Security Disability Benefits

Social security disability benefits, also called SSDI, provide you with supplemental income if you become disables and will be unable to work for an extended period of time. It is provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), and requires an application and various documents to prove your disability. Unfortunately, some people are denied coverage when they apply. Here are some common reasons to be denied SSDI coverage to be aware of.

You Don't Have a Severe Disability

In order to qualify for SSDI, your disability must be severe enough that you can't return to work, even for a different position than what you held before. This requires a good deal of medical documentation.

For example, if you were injured, you might have gotten broken bones that currently has you in a wheelchair, but that doesn't necessarily mean you will be out of work for a year or longer. If the SSA does not believe your injury will lost a long period of time, you might be denied these benefits.

You Still Earn too Much Money

In some cases, people are still able to work part-time even with a disability, and get social security benefits. However, you must still provide that your wages are below reasonable living wages. If you work part-time or seasonally, and your income is above what the SSA considers "substantial gainful activity," they will say you make too much money for disability benefits.

In this case, you either have to rework your budget to live off what you make, or get a lawyer to try and defend your case. You will have to prove that you in fact do not have enough to get by for a long amount of time.

You Aren't Cooperating

You must fill out the application in full and provide all requested documentation when you apply for social security disability benefits. If you fail to do so, you are not being cooperative, and you will likely be denied benefits.

You must have the proper medical records to show that you are indeed disabled with a long-term disability that keeps you from having regular employment. You will need to have gotten a diagnosis and treatment from a medical doctor, and show that in your medical records.

You Are Denying Treatment

With your disability, you must still follow through with treatments or therapy as prescribed by your doctor. If you fail to go through physical therapy after a major injury, the SSA can determine that your disability is worsened because you are not trying to get better. This is not a legitimate reason to get benefits, therefore they may deny it. However, if you show that you have done everything the doctor requested, and your disability has not improved, you have a better shot.

If you are denied your social security disability benefits, contact a law firm like Iler and Iler that specializes in disability law.


Share