You may be taking the time to get a handle on your debilitating physical, mental, or emotional condition, and understandably so. But at the same time, you still must carve out time to work on your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits application. This may just be the only way to be properly compensated for your disability. Continue reading to learn how to recover SSDI benefits and how an experienced New Jersey SSDI attorney at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur can walk you through every step.
What do I need to do to recover SSDI benefits?
Before all else, you must confirm that your physical, mental, or emotional condition qualifies for SSDI benefits in the first place. That is, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has set forth a list of eligible conditions, which may be found on its website.
Then, you must confirm that you have earned enough income to qualify for SSDI benefits at all. That is, the SSA has a recent work test and a duration of work test that is used to make this determination.
Once these two main requirements are settled, you must prepare the proper documents to submit alongside your application. Such documents may consist of the following:
- Your W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns from last year.
- Your Adult Disability Report.
- A doctor’s note that describes the nature of your disability (i.e., its temporariness or permanence).
- Records of your relevant medical history (i.e., prescription medications, lab results, medical bills, etc).
- Records of the date on which you became unable to maintain gainful employment.
- Records of your temporary or permanent workers’ compensation benefits, if applicable.
What is the process for recovering benefits?
Upon submitting your SSDI benefits application, you may expect to wait anywhere between three to five months to hear back from the SSA. Rest assured, an attorney may assist you in checking the status of your application.
Unfortunately, you may wait these months just to get denied of these benefits. The SSA may reject your application if they believe that your disability is ineligible, your work duration is insufficient, your documents were inadequate, or otherwise. So, if this is your case, then an attorney may assist you in appealing your claim.
The appeals process may take an additional three to five months, as you may have to undergo these five stages:
- The initial/application level.
- The reconsideration.
- The hearing by an Administrative Law Judge.
- The review by the Appeals Council.
- The review by the Federal District Court.
At the end of the day, you need a skilled New Jersey SSDI attorney to stand by your side throughout your benefits application process. Contact The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur to retain our services today.
