Steps to Improve Your Chances of Disability Benefits Approval

The process of applying and getting approved for Social Security disability benefits is a complicated undertaking best done with the help of a Jacksonville disability attorney. While your attorney can provide you with great assistance in filing and monitoring your claim, there are many steps you can take prior to and during the disability claims process that can boost your chances of being approved for disability benefits.

Correspondence is Key to Social Security Disability Benefits

Before contacting your Jacksonville disability attorney you should gather all the necessary paperwork they will need to file your application. This includes the medical records that support the evidence of your impairment and ongoing treatment. You should also bring any previous applications and denials if you have attempted to file for Social Security disability benefits in the past.

During the entire disability claims process, you and your Jacksonville disability attorney need to keep in good communication with the Social Security Administration (SSA). When you file your Social Security disability benefits application with the help of an attorney, the SSA will submit all documentation to both you and the law firm.

You should always contact your Jacksonville disability attorney when you receive any correspondence from the SSA to ensure they are also receiving the appropriate notices. These may include notices concerning a hearing of your claim or a request for you to undertake an independent medical exam. Failing to respond to these notices can result in your disability claim being denied.

Continuing Medical Care for Your Disability

One of the most harmful things you can do to your Social Security disability claim is to cease doctor involvement in managing your impairment. In order for the SSA to believe that your condition is serious enough to qualify for disability benefits you'll need to provide a diagnosis by a medical professional as well as show the SSA you are taking your condition and treatment seriously by going to all of your medical appointments and following the treatment plan prescribed by your physician.

If you are having difficulty in maintaining ongoing care for your disability you should alert your attorney. If the costs of ongoing treatment are creating an insurmountable financial burden that is preventing you from seeking the continued medical care required for your condition, a Jacksonville disability attorney may be able to file a "dire need" letter to help expedite a hearing with an administrative law judge.

Having your doctor write a letter of support verifying their opinion that your condition is considered disabling is extremely helpful to your Social Security disability benefits claim. Having a solid amount of medical evidence that details the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care you are undertaking concerning your condition can greatly increase your chances of being approved for Social Security disability benefits.

If there are large gaps in your treatment history, or other forms of medical evidence are missing, your Jacksonville disability attorney may be able to advise you on specific steps you can take to help correct these issues to increase the strength of your disability claim.

Contacting a Jacksonville Disability Attorney

When applying for Social Security disability benefits, the first step you should take is to contact a Jacksonville disability attorney to get your claim on the right track to approval. The better you are at prompt communication, thorough documentation, and good organization of your application, the less hassle your claim will have going through the system.

The Social Security attorneys at Sullivan & Hepler understand that you have questions regarding your Jacksonville Social Security disability claim. We have your answers. Before you hire an attorney or file your claim, order this free consumer guide Cutting Through the Red Tape: Top Ten Things Florida Social Security Disability Applicants Should Know for more information about how to build a strong claim. Contact us today at 904-384-8808 or 1-800-295-4193.