Brad Collins and Andrew Price are SSDI lawyers in Greensboro. They help disabled clients apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. It’s important to avoid common mistakes when applying for SSDI. Using Andrew and Brad’s combined 20+ years of experience as SSDI lawyers in Greensboro, we’ve compiled a list of those mistakes.
How Do I Apply for SSDI?
There are four ways to apply for SSDI benefits in Greensboro, NC. You can apply directly online at this link. You can apply in person at the Greensboro Social Security field office. Or, you can also apply by calling your Greensboro Social Security field office. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Social Security field offices are closed for in-person meetings. There are emergency exceptions but most claimants must apply by telephone.
And finally, you can choose to work with one of several disability lawyers in Greensboro, NC who will help you file for SSDI benefits or appeal denied benefits. Regardless of which method you choose, read below to learn the most common mistakes people make when applying for SSDI.
Common Mistakes When Applying for SSDI
Mistake #1: Focusing on a single medical impairment when you suffer from many. Often, there is a single, severe medical condition that results in an individual leaving work to apply for SSDI benefits. But it’s a mistake to only list your most severe impairment if you also suffer from other serious medical problems that impact your daily life. If you have a medical treatment history and medical evidence for an impairment and it affects you daily, include it!
Mistake #2: Failing to list all your medical providers. This is a straightforward problem but a mistake that many applicants make. List all your medical providers. If you do not, then the Social Security Administration (SSA) cannot gather medical evidence from those treating providers. And they will use this medical evidence to determine whether you are disabled. More medical evidence typically means a better result.
Mistake #3: Missing out on additional disability programs you may qualify for. If you qualify for SSDI, it’s possible you may also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Widow’s Benefits or other Social Security programs for disabled individuals. You cannot submit applications for SSI online, so pay close attention to the instructions for filing to ensure you submit your application correctly the first time.
Mistake #4: Getting important dates wrong on the application. When applying for SSDI benefits, there are many important dates to keep in mind. These dates may include the following: dates of former marriages and the dates of any divorce, work activity dates and dates during which you received medical treatment. Many applicants don’t remember dates accurately or take the time to go back and check their work activity dates. While this may seem like it wouldn’t be a serious mistake, if you get work activity dates wrong, important work may be considered ‘past relevant’ work when it shouldn’t be. This may lower the amount of your monthly benefits.
Mistake #5: Applying for SSDI without any help. While you can apply for SSDI benefits without help from a qualified disability lawyer, statistics show that claimants who work with Social Security Disability attorneys are THREE TIMES more likely to win their claim than those who go it alone. And, since disability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, there is no fee for a free consultation on your claim or for their services if you are not successful. It’s a win-win.
Disability Attorney in Greensboro NC
Have you been or are you planning to be out of work for 12 consecutive months or longer due to a medical impairment? If so, contact the Greensboro disability attorneys at Collins Price today. There is no fee for our initial consultation and no obligation to hire our firm.
