As you can likely infer, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is quite particular when it comes to which individuals they grant Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. And so, when you are preparing your application, you must supply the right documents to prove your case. Continue reading to learn what documents you should gather for your benefits application and how an experienced New Jersey SSDI attorney at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur can assist you in the instance of an appeal.
What documents should I collect for my SSDI application?
It is without a doubt that you may need to locate and submit a great deal of documentation alongside your SSDI benefits application. Firstly, you may need documentation that establishes your identity, such as the original copy of your birth certificate, proof of your United States citizenship or lawful alien status, proof of your marital status, proof of your dependant parties, and copies of your military discharge papers, if applicable.
The second half of your documentation may pertain to your disability. This documentation may be comprised of the following:
- A copy of last year’s W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns.
- A copy of your Adult Disability Report.
- A copy of your medical records (i.e., doctor’s notes, prescriptions, lab results, etc).
- Proof of any temporary or permanent workers’ compensation benefits (i.e., award letters, settlement agreements, pay stubs, etc).
- Proof of the date you became unable to maintain gainful employment.
- Proof of the temporariness or permanence of your injuries.
What proof do I need when appealing my SSDI application?
Say, for instance, that after gathering all these documents and submitting your SSDI benefits application, the SSA ultimately denies your claim. They may have passed on your claim because they believed that you did not properly adhere to your prescribed medical treatment; your disability will not last longer than 12 months; your disability does not prevent you from maintaining gainful employment; your disability is caused by your substance abuse; or otherwise.
Regardless, you may still have a chance at obtaining benefits via an appeal. Undoubtedly, you will have to collect additional documents for your appeals process. The most important of all will be a statement from your doctor that defines the nature of your disability. It may also be helpful for your doctor to offer the following:
- A statement on the specifics of your medical diagnosis.
- A statement on the specifics of your clinical findings.
- A statement on the specifics of your laboratory findings.
- A statement on the specifics of your medical history before your diagnosis.
- A statement on the specifics of the treatment they prescribed to you, your response to it, and the final prognosis.
All in all, you must not proceed any further without the support of a skilled New Jersey SSDI appeals lawyer. We look forward to serving you.
