Social Security decision makers will deny most of the claims they look at in 2020, as they have in all past years. Only the claims that stand out as well developed, clear and complete will be marked "Approved."
If your medical record is even slightly unclear, if it isn't certain that your condition will last for at least 12 months, or even if your records are not received--the decision maker is instructed to deny your claim and let someone further along in the process make a decision.
In other words, when there is any doubt, deny first and reconsider later.
The claims that get paid early on are the ones that "check all the boxes" and leave no doubts unsettled.
Many claims that get denied will later be approved in the appeals process but that may be 24 months later. Meanwhile, the claimant is not being paid and may be in financial trouble.
Your best bet for an early Social Security approval?
1. Be sure to file a complete, accurate and thorough application, including all the later forms you will receive in the mail. This includes the Work History Report and Function Report.
2. List all of your doctors and other medical providers, giving complete addresses and telephone numbers.
3. Call your disability specialist at the Disability Determination Service after about 30 days to see if he/she is receiving all of your medical records from providers. If not, call the problematic providers and ask if they will send in your records.
4. Return all calls from Social Security and keep all appointments, such as consultative examinations with their doctor.
5. If you get a denial, remember that it's not unusual. This will require an appeal or "Reconsideration." Note that about 98 percent of Reconsideration requests are also denied, requiring a further appeal. Prior to your visit with an administrative law judge for a hearing, consider getting representation. It's probably time.
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The Forsythe Firm
Phone (256) 799-0297
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