Social Security Disability Questions and Answers

  What is the process of filing for Social Security Supplemental Income or Disability Insurance Benefits?     You may file your application online at ssa.gov/disability or you may ask for a disability representative to help you throughout the process. You will need to have all your personal information, name and addresses of all treatment from 2 years prior to your condition limiting your daily activities, a list of your medications and all work history for the last 15 years.   Once your application is filed, SSA will send your claim to a state agency called “Disability Determination Services (DDS).” They will request your medical records, review information regarding your daily activities, and make an initial decision on your claim. Once a decision is made, DDS will return to the local field office in your area for the decision to be sent to you.   When you are awarded benefits for Supplemental Security Income, a representative from Social Security will rea...

  Does Workers' Compensation benefits lower my SSDI benefits?    Disability payments from private sources, such as private pensions or insurance benefits, don’t affect your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.      Workers’ compensation and other public disability benefits, however, may reduce your SSDI benefits.  Workers’ compensation payments are made to a worker because of a job-related injury or illness. They may be paid by federal or state workers’ compensation agencies, employers, or by insurance companies on behalf of employers. Other public disability payments may affect your Social Security benefits. These payments are made by a federal, state, or local government and are for disabling medical conditions that are not job-related. Examples are civil service disability benefits, state temporary disability benefits, and state or local government retirement benefits that are based on disability. If you receive workers’ compensatio...

      You should be seeing a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist for at least 12 months.   The providers above must release your appointment session notes/records.   You must also be on a prescribed medication regiment and be taking medication.   You have to clean from alcohol and drugs for 12 months.   You need a residual mental functional capacity exam.      It is best to speak to your therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist if you are looking to file for disability. If your providers are supportive and will provide the necessary documents needed, you have a better chance to win your disability claim.     If you have questions, please call 816.451.2020, KC Disability Advocates are here to help!  

A Continuing Disability Review (CDR) is a periodic review conducted by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to assess whether individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits continue to meet the criteria for disability. The purpose of a CDR is to determine if there has been any improvement in the recipient's medical condition and if they are still unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to their disability. The SSA conducts CDRs to ensure that disability benefits are provided only to those who remain medically eligible. There are three main types of CDRs: Medical Improvement Expected (MIE): For individuals with disabilities that are expected to improve over time. These reviews typically occur every 6 to 18 months. Medical Improvement Possible (MIP): For individuals with disabilities that may improve. These reviews generally occur every 3 years. Medical Improvement Not Expected (MIN...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) denies an average of 70% of initial applications. Requiring the person to give up or file an appeal within 60 days, called a Request for Reconsideration. SSA again continues to deny 85%  of claim at the Reconsideration appeals. The claimant has another 60 days to file the appeal. This appeal will be to request a hearing with an Administrative law judge.  With this percentage of denials, it is best to have a disability representative advocate with you at your hearing. Most judges will postpone cases until you have representation.  The sooner you elect a disability advocate, the sooner your case can be properly prepared for the hearing. This includes missing medical treatment records, school records, and anything that can support you disability claim. With that being said, you do not have to wait for a hearing to hire a disability advocate. A disability advocate representative can help retrieve information needed to win you case...