The length of time it takes for a Social Security Disability (SSD) application to be approved varies from case to case, depending on the quality of the application package and the nature and severity of the benefit claimant’s disability.
At The Law Firm, our disability law specialists work constantly to ensure that every SSDI or SSI application package is prepared with the most complete set of medical documentation, clearly and strongly supporting our client’s entitlement to disability benefits. This blog post explains how a well-organized and thorough SSD application package will receive an approval response faster than others.
Average Waiting Time for SSD Application Process
According to the Social Security Administration, an average processing time between the date the application is received and the time an approval letter is sent out is between three and five months. But what everyone knows from experience is that many initial claims are not approved for one reason or another.
When an initial SSD application is denied, there is a reason. That reason could be that the person reviewing the initial claim at the local Disability Determination Services office overlooked something and incorrectly denied the claim. The reason could also be that the SSD benefits application was missing important medical documentation. Another reason an application might be denied right away is that the applicant may not have accumulated enough “work credits” to be eligible for SSD benefits.
Experience SSD Benefits Lawyers Prevent Needless Delays in Application Processing
Each of the reasons described in the previous paragraph would have either been prevented or immediately corrected if an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer was handling the application for the claimant.
Thorough Preparation Prevents Errors
One of the most common reasons for needless delays in the processing time of an SSD benefits application is the failure to include all of the medical documentation required to prove the existence of the claimant’s impairment and to prove the severity of the condition.
The Social Security Administration’s definition of a “disability” is a “medically determinable physical or mental impairment lasting or expected to last 12 months (or result in death) that prevents the person from substantial gainful activities.”
“Medically determinable” means that the impairment is well documented in clear medical reports, examination notes, lab tests, MRIs, CT-scans, x-rays, etc. The government will not be satisfied by an application that omits the full medical record, or that describes only general symptoms without any documentation of how the impairments limit the applicant’s daily activities.
There are some impairments that are accepted as qualified disabilities but that must be supported by a long treatment history to allow the SSD case evaluators to distinguish between a mild, treatable impairment and one that is chronic, unresponsive to treatment, and perhaps even complicated by the comorbidity of an accompanying impairment.
Unclear Medical Records Cause Delays
Another technique Law uses to minimize the chance of any unnecessary delays in processing an SSD benefit claim is following up with your treating physicians if their records, reports, or treatment notes are unclear.
A person suffering from a qualified disability who is deserving of SSD benefits could suffer from their doctor’s failure to be crystal clear in the notes they create. When necessary, an experienced SSD lawyer’s staff will reach out to the healthcare provider to request that the be more specific or state their conclusions and recommendations in clearer language.
Your disability application is too important to you to allow it to be submitted for approval in an incomplete or unclear condition. Get your SSD benefits approval letter as speedily as possible by making sure it is prepared professionally.
Francis Babet loves pursuing excellence through writing and has a passion for Legal. He currently writes for The law Firm, a USA Based Law Firm that provides SSD, SSI, SSDI, Personal Injury, and Drugs and Devices. His work has been published on various sites related to Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income and more.