When people think about applying for Social Security disability, many plan to first apply on their own and then, if they are denied, they will reach out to an advocate for help.
You don’t even need to listen to my advice on this. You can think back to the advice that your grandmother and older aunties gave you way back when. That wisdom applies here!
Look Before You Leap
The information that you give the Social Security Administration on your application and forms matters. And, the information that you don’t give them may matter even more.
Forewarned is Forearmed
The way you answer questions about your medical conditions, daily activities, and past work all become part of your record as soon as you submit them. Understanding why Social Security is asking a question, and understanding how your answers will be used is key to a successful benefits claim. If you fill out your initial application without being aware of these things, those mistakes will follow your claim through every level of appeal.
A Small Leak Will Sink A Great Ship
At that point, even if you hire a representative, some of those mistakes may be difficult or impossible to overcome.
An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure
Having knowledgeable help from the beginning also gives you a better chance of presenting your claim correctly the first time. An experienced disability representative understands the rules, knows what evidence matters, and knows where problems can arise, so they can help you avoid them.
Better Safe Than Sorry
Planning to call in an advocate to help if you get denied may also sound like a way to save money, but it is not! You will not pay anything up front at all for disability representation. Advocates are not paid at all if your claim is not successful.
Penny Wise and Pound Foolish
If you are delaying getting representation from the very start because you are worried about how much it will cost, that is not the best way to spend your time and energy. All disability representatives, lawyers, and advocates are required to follow the same strict Social Security rules concerning how much they can be paid. In fact, the amount that can be charged is capped by law.
One of my favorite sayings is repeated often, but people tend to forget the last half of the phrase: “Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it, but know the river is there.” There is no sense in wasting energy worrying about future problems too early, but you need to be aware of the hurdles ahead.
The best advice I can give anyone considering filing for Social Security disability benefits is this: do not wait until your claim is denied to get help. With no investment required, it makes little sense to go it alone and risk creating problems that could cause your claim to be denied with no opportunity to recover.
Get help from the start. Give yourself the best chance of getting it right the first time, and call in Disability Advocates to work for you!