Many people who are applying for Social Security Disability benefits will begin the process online. However, most people still fill out paper applications. As part of the process an in-person or telephone appointment with a representative from the Social Security Administration is usually a given. As our readers would likely expect, this meeting is a crucial stage in the process of applying for SSD benefits. As such, it is important to be organized and ready for the meeting.
Obviously, certain biographical data will be needed at this meeting; information like the applicant’s address, dates of marriages or divorces and information about dependents. But, the most important information that will be needed at the meeting is copies of medical records. Now, it is important to note that the Social Security Administration knows well that medical records can be difficult for the average person to read and understand, so all the agency asks is that applicants have whatever records they have at the time available for the meeting — if additional records are needed, the agency will help.
There is also a worksheet pertaining to the applicant’s medical and work history. This worksheet will need to be filled out and available for reference at the meeting as well. And, for those applicants who are interested in having their SSD benefits deposited directly into their bank account, the applicant’s banking information must be available at the meeting too.
Having the right information — and having it organized — can make the difference in an application being approved or denied. After all, our Los Angeles readers would hardly expect the Social Security Administration to be able to grant SSD benefits with incomplete information, would they?
Source: SocialSecurity.gov, “Checklist – Adult Disability Interview,” accessed on Sept. 1, 2014
