Social Security Disability Appeal Process Myths ExposedThe first time an individual decides to file a claim for social security disability benefits they are apt to get lots of advice from friends and family. The comical part of this is that most of the people offering their sage advice have never actually applied for SSDI themselves. It can be intimidating to hear these mini-horror stories and then have to proceed with a claim. The biggest myth centers on the social security disability appeal process. When a person realizes the real truth behind these social security disability myths, they are likely going to feel less insecure and much more comfortable about the whole process. When a person is denied SSDI or SSI they have the option of appealing. Many people think this step is useless because they believe their appeal will just be denied as well. The main reason people think this is because they've heard others speak about how impossible it is to win an appeal. That's not true, and in fact, over 70% of people who appeal an initial denial will eventually win their appeal. Another common myth is that claimants don't really need attorneys to win their claims. Unless the claimant themselves is an attorney, this simply isn't true. A social security attorney is essential for anyone facing a hearing in regards to their social security disability claim. In fact, an attorney can be so helpful in the Request for Reconsideration stage of the claim process, that the claim will be approved then. Hiring an attorney is never something that should be considered unnecessary. A comical and too common myth is related to the number of claims that are denied. Some people suggest that upwards of 90% of initial claims are denied. There are individuals who believe this is a direct result of the government wanting to save money. This is clearly a ludicrous and unreasonable claim. It's obviously not the government plotting against the disabled that is the cause of this. In most cases it's incomplete claim forms and unverified disabilities. Physicians play a crucial role in the social security disability claim process. It's obviously important that everyone with a vital claim be prepared to supply information from a physician that supports their position that they have a disability. However, some people believe that almost any letter from a doctor will warrant that they start receiving SSDI or SSI benefits. This simply isn't the case. Each person who is eligible to receive these benefits actually has to have a very serious disability that restricts them from working. Back payments are another area where there is a lot of misunderstanding. Not everyone who goes through the appeal process is granted back payments. Only individuals who can prove that they have been disabled since the date of their initial application are likely to receive these payments. Even in that case, they are still going to have to face the initial waiting period. |