What Do You Need To Apply For Disability

Disability Application Checklist Item #: Your Medical Records And Medication List

Medical records are extremely important for proving your condition forces you to stop working. These documents include x-rays, MRIs, blood tests and any doctors treatment notes about your health condition. The DDS views your medical records as evidence that proves you receive regular treatments for your condition. Include the phone number and address of the healthcare facility where your doctor performs any tests. Your medications also provide useful information that supports your claim. Include all medications you currently take, any your doctor prescribed in the past and why you stopped taking them .

Work History And Education Records

The SSA reviews your employment history, job skills and duties, and your formal education as well as job training when determining eligibility for benefits.

Old pay stubs or other work documents can give you the names, addresses, and phone numbers of former employers, and your old job titles and previous pay information. Youll want to collect similar information about schools or training programs you attended in the past.

Person With A Disability

The programs definition of a person with a disability is found in the ODSP Act.

Meeting the definition means that:

• you have a substantial mental or physical impairment that is continuous or recurrent, and is expected to last one year or more and

• your impairment directly results in a substantial restriction in your ability to work, care for yourself, or take part in community life and

• your impairment, its duration and restrictions have been verified by an approved health care professional

To determine whether you meet this definition, your caseworker will give you a Disability Determination Package for you and your health care provider to complete.

Your completed package will be used to determine if you meet the programs definition of a person with a disability.

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What Medical Conditions Qualify For The Disability Tax Credit

The disability tax credit is different from other disability benefits plans. The above disability plans focus on how your medical condition affects your ability to work. The is not focused on your ability to work. Rather, it focuses on impairment with your daily activities.

Eligibility Criteria for the Disability Tax Credit

• be blind
• be in at least one basic activity of daily living
• be significantly restricted in two or more basic activities of daily living
• need life sustaining therapy

You will automatically qualify for the disability tax credit if your medical condition causes blindness or you to need life sustaining therapy.

To qualify as blind your visual acuity in both eyes must be 20/200 or less or your field of vision in both eyes is 20 degrees or less.

To qualify under the life sustaining therapy requirement, the therapy must be needed to support a vital function, and you must need it at least 3 times per week for an average of 14 hours per week.

The basic activities of daily living include the following:

• Speaking
• Dressing
• Mental functions necessary for everyday life

To qualify for the disability tax credit you must show that you are markedly restricted in one of these areas. A marked restriction means that you are unable to do the BADL or take an inordinate amount of time to do it. This restriction must be present 90% of the time.

Learn the secrets for winning disability benefits, even after a denial

Talk To A Disability Lawyer

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What Happens If I Dont Have All These Documents When I Apply

Now, several people asked if they could apply for disability if they dont have any recent medical documentation. The fact is, if you havent seen a doctor in several years, it will count against you. First, the SSA will require you to come in for an appointment with a Disability Determination Services doctor. This doctor will then conduct whats called a consultative exam. This DDS doctor prepares a report that either confirms your disability or suggests you can still work, despite your condition. With no recent medical evidence or documentation from regular doctors treatments, you may not get approved for disability benefits.

However, if your condition is severe enough, your consultative exam might be all you need. For example: If you were born blind, no doctor can likely restore your sight. So, no recent doctors visits and lack of documentation wont count against you. But if you file a claim for cancer, you almost certainly saw an oncologist within the last year.

Get Your Documents Ready To Claim

Youll need to get some supporting documents ready to help answer some of the questions in the claim.

Youll need medical evidence for the claim.

You need to give us all the medical evidence and supporting documents we ask for. If you dont, we may not accept your claim or we may reject it.

You can track the progress of your claim online. Sign in to myGov and go to Centrelink, or use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.

If we need more details well ask you for them.

Well let you know the result of your application. Well send a message to your myGov Inbox.

If you don’t get electronic letters, we’ll send you a letter in the mail.

If you think weve made a mistake you can ask us to review our decision.

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We Will Make Sure Your Disability Benefits Application Is Error

If you hire one of our attorneys for tasks related to your SSDI or SSI application, we will ensure your application is accurate and manage the appeals process as necessary. At our firm, we handle all aspects of your claim, from filing your claim to the appeals process, so that you can focus on your health and well-being.

We will help you understand the SSAs designated conditions and related medical requirements and your status regarding those. If you need further medical evaluation to establish your disability, we can advise you if that is the case.

Complete a Case Evaluation form now

What Is The Social Security Administration’s Definition Of Disabled

To obtain disability payments from either SSI or SSDI, you must meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disabled. This is not as easy as it sounds. For the SSA to consider you disabled, your condition must:

• Last a year, be expected to last a year, or be expected to result in your death.
• Significantly limit your ability to do basic activities necessary to work, such as walking, sitting, standing, or retaining and remembering information.
• Be included in the SSA’s “Listing of Impairments” or be medically equivalent to listed conditions. This Listing of Impairments is also called the “Blue Book.”
• Prevent you from doing any work for which you’re qualified.

More than half of all applicants for disability benefits are denied, often because their ailment does not meet this very limited definition of what it means to be disabled.

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What You Need For Apply For Ssdi Or Ssi Benefits

You will get a faster decision when you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income with the Social Security Administration if you provide:

• Your Social Security number
• Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers
• Laboratory and test results
• Names, addresses, phone and fax numbers of your doctors, clinics and hospitals
• Names of all medications you are taking
• Names of your employers and job duties for the last 15 years

If you are applying for a child, you also need school records regarding your child’s disability.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Don’t wait to file your claim for disability payments even if you don’t have all this information.

Who Qualifies For Temporary Disability Assistance

It would be nice if the Disability Tax Credit were distributed in a way that is black and white. Unfortunately, there are many shades of grey in this process. The Canada Revenue Agency has a trusted medical board that reviews T2201 forms and makes decisions on who receives disability assistance. This group reviews each case and makes individual rulings.

The decision making process can be difficult. It takes time to determine who will receive disability support and for what length of time. The Canada Revenue Agency needs to know more than what type of disability you have they need to know how this disability affects you every day.

This information can help you fill out the T2201 form accurately. Make sure your medical practitioner clearly defines the effects of your disability rather than submitting a flimsy fact sheet. If you feel your doctor has limited knowledge of your daily living challenges, make it a point to discuss these obstacles before he or she fills out their portion of the form.

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Types Of Disability Policies

There are two types of disability policies.

• Short-term policies may pay for up to two years. Most last for a few months to a year.

• Long-term policies may pay benefits for a few years or until the disability ends.

Employers who offer coverage may provide short-term coverage, long-term coverage, or both.

If you plan to buy your own policy, shop around and ask:

• How is disability defined?

• How long do benefits last?

• How much money will the policy pay?

Dtc Benefits Will Not Impact You Negatively In Any Way

Because the DTC is simply an income tax reduction credit, there are no associated negative financial impacts to claimants when receiving such credits. The DTC is income tax that has been reduced, so any payments of refunds to claimants would not be considered as income . Also, because DTC credit refunds are not considered income, refund credits do not generally threaten claimants other income or health benefit sources that are affected by outside income sources and amounts.*

*Claimants should check directly with their income benefits provider regarding benefits implications when receiving lump sum income tax credit refunds.

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How Do I Prove That I’m Disabled

If you’re thinking about filing an LTD claim, you should first consult the summary plan description in your long-term disability policy for the policy’s precise definition of “disability.” Generally, you will be found “totally disabled” if you’re unable, due to illness or injury, to substantially perform the duties of your occupation. If your LTD policy provides for “partial disability,” you may qualify for benefits if you can no longer work full-time at your own occupation, even if you’re capable of working full- or part-time at another job.

Many policies state that you cannot file an LTD claim if you are still on your employer’s payroll.

As in Social Security disability cases, the most important factor in proving your disability in an LTD claim is the opinion of your treating doctor. As part of your application for LTD benefits, your doctor will be asked to complete a form or write a statement regarding his or her opinion on your condition. Your physician’s opinion is critical, but the claims administrator will also want objective proof of your disability. Therefore, the administrator will also request all the medical records related to your disability, including relevant clinic notes, lab results, x-rays, MRIs, exam findings, and surgical reports.

Know Your Critical Dates

Some of your application paperwork must be submitted within a certain amount of time from the start of your leave from work often within the first 30 days. Late submissions may impact your eligibility for benefits. It may take time for your insurer to review, adjudicate and process your claim: it is common for the adjudication process to take at least 10 business days.

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How Much Can You Receive In Supplemental Security Income

The monthly income you’ll receive from SSI is typically lower than the monthly benefit you’d get from SSDI. It’s not based on past wages but is instead a fixed amount based on the federal benefit rate.

As of 2018, the monthly maximum SSI benefit is $750 for eligible individuals and $1,125 for couples.

Benefits Of Working With A Disability Lawyer

Many people think that if they have a good case for eligibility for disability benefits asking an attorney to help you thorough the process is not necessarily required. However, taking into consideration that 60% of claims are denied it is worth hiring a lawyer who will increase your chance of approval. This is because the attorney knows how the SSA deals with applicants due to having dealt with many cases before.

The right documentation is the key to a successful disability benefits claim so a disability attorney will be able to sieve through your documents to check to make sure they are acceptable. If any amendments are required or if any documents are missing your attorney will ensure all your documentation is in order before your initial claim for disability benefits is submitted to the SSA.

If you applied without a lawyer and have been denied it is not too late, contact a lawyer to aid you in the appeal process. There is always a chance of winning disability payments at this reconsideration stage if a lawyer helps you through the process.

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Health Resources For People With Disabilities

Federal, state, and local government agencies and programs can help with your health needs if you have a disability.

• Explore the Disability and Health section of CDC.gov for articles, programs, tips for healthy living and more.

• Learn more about benefits for people with disabilities from the Social Security Administration.

• Contact your local city or county government to find out what medical and health services are available locally for people with disabilities.

• Your state social service agency can help you locate medical and health programs.

Visit USA.govs Government Benefits page to learn more about government programs and services that can help you and your family.

What If Your Application Is Denied

The denial rate for Social Security Disability benefits is very high, so there’s a significant chance your application won’t be approved. If your claim is denied, there are multiple stages of appeal, including:

• Request for reconsideration, which means a new disability claims examiner reviews your claim again
• A hearing before an administrative law judge
• A review by the Social Security Administration’s internal appeals board
• Appeal to a federal court

The decision not to award you benefits could be reversed at any stage of the appeals process. For example, your request for reconsideration could result in your benefits being approved and you wouldn’t need to move on to additional appeals. However, you must go through each phase if your claim continues to be denied and you want to keep fighting.

If you must appeal a benefits denial, the process of getting benefits can take a very long time. In fact, depending where you live, it may take around a year for a hearing to be scheduled. You may be able to attend your hearing via video if you’re unable to attend in person.

All of these stages of appeal take place within the Social Security’s administrative process until you get to the federal court appeal. The ALJ works for the Social Security Administration but is still supposed to impartially weigh the evidence to determine whether your claim was handled properly.

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What Is The Listing Of Impairments

The Listing of Impairments is a list of conditions or health problems the SSA has prepared that are usually considered severe enough to allow you to qualify for benefits. It’s divided into Part A, which lists adult conditions, and Part B, which lists children’s conditions.

Within each part, there are specific categories of medical ailments that deal with different parts of the body, including:

• The Musculoskeletal System
• Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems
• Neurological Disorders
• Cancer
• Immune System Disorders

In each of these individual subsections are diseases, disorders, and medical problems that the SSA believes may allow you to qualify for benefits. However, having a listed condition still isn’t enough. The SSA also lists specific symptoms you must exhibit or criteria you must meet to qualify for benefits based on that condition.

For example, to qualify for disability benefits based on chronic heart failure, you must be undergoing treatment and still have medically documented proof of systolic or diastolic failure. The SSA even defines exactly what it considers to be systolic or diastolic failure.

The chronic heart failure also must result in: persistent symptoms of heart failure that interfere with daily living three or more separate episodes of acute congestive heart failure over a consecutive 12-month period or an inability to perform an exercise tolerance test for specified reasons, such as chest discomfort.