MIS-UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT SSDI

Here are a few of the more commonly mis-understood things about Social Security disability (SSDI).

1.  Everyone is covered by Social Security disability.

Actually not everyone is.  You have to accumulate a minimum number of work credits to be covered by the Title II program.  Also, the work credits must be recent enough. 

2.  Once you work enough to be covered by Social Security disability, you are always covered.

Also not true.  Work credits must be recent enough.  As a rule, work credits expire about 5 years after you stop working, after which you are no longer covered for Social Security disability.

3.  Social Security denies everyone at first.

It may seem that way but they actually approve about 25 percent of claims initially. Still, a denial rate of nearly 75 percent is very high.  The truth is that most disability claims are won during the appeal, not just with an application.

4.  The Social Security office will help me with my claim, so I won't benefit from an attorney/representative.

A dangerous half-truth.  Social Security will provide you with the correct forms and provide general information about its programs and services.  They will not become your advocate. They will not fight to help you get benefits. It will be up to you to prove that you are disabled.  The burden of proof always rests on the claimant.  Claimants who are represented have a higher success rate than those who are not.

--The Forsythe Firm
Huntsville, AL 35806
PH (256) 799-0297

WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION