Yes, it’s true. As SSDI lawyers, we can assure you that Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI” or “disability benefits”) applications take a long, long time to get decided. And when at last they are decided, social security disability claims are usually denied.
What takes so long?
SSDI BENEFITS AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET THEM
Here’s one contributing factor to the snail’s pace at which disability applications are decided. There is no deadline by which a disability officer must make a decision on an application. Some cases are decided in months, others (rare, of course) can take up to a year to decide.
But why, you ask?
Well, there are a number of reasons. One is the fact that the SSA is understaffed.
Another more common reason, however, is that the delay in processing an application is often caused by a disability examiner’s inability to get medical records from your doctors or specialists.
Sometimes you (the applicant) cause the delay by not providing complete information on your application. This makes it more difficult and time consuming for the claims examiner to contact your doctors. Having an experienced SSDI lawyer assist you with the application can save time and frustration.
At other times, it is the doctor’s office simply not responding or not responding in a timely fashion, to the SSA’s requests for records.
Sometimes the delay is caused by surgery or a treatment you may be undergoing. Because the SSA will not award benefits to those who are not severely disabled, if you are undergoing a treatment or surgery that may improve your condition, the SSA will often put your application on hold to see what the result of the treatment/surgery is.
This long delay in decision-making on a disability application can cause financial hardship on people who desperately need disability benefits. That is why we believe that anyone’s best chance is to have experienced SSDI lawyers represent you right from the start.
While having counsel cannot speed up the process or get your application approved any faster, and is no guarantee of an award of benefits, you can be assured that your application will be correct and complete and ready to be acted on as soon as possible.
EXPERIENCED SSDI LAWYERS CAN HELP
If you want to know more about how to improve your chances of getting SSDI benefits, or have questions about your application for benefits, contact us. We are experienced disability attorneys. As a disability law firm, we have helped many people get benefits and we can help you, too. We have offices throughout Missouri. We also have offices in Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois and in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We offer FREE consultations and we do not get paid unless you win your case. Call us at (618) 732-0146 or contact us online.