Common SSDI Denial Mistakes California Applicants Must Avoid

The denial of a claim for benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance program is not as uncommon as you might think. Each year, about 62% of the initial applications submitted to the Social Security Administration are denied benefits.

Claims can be denied for a variety of reasons. Sackett and Associates put together this list of the reasons for an SSDI claim denial in California. As you read through this explanation of SSDI and the things that can hurt a claim, keep in mind that a disability attorney from Sackett Law can improve your chances of avoiding them. Here are some of the common reasons SSDI denied in California

SSDI Coverage and Work Credits

Disability benefits through the SSDI program are not available to everyone with a disabling medical condition. Applicants must have worked long enough to be covered by SSDI.

The Social Security Administration uses work credits to determine how long a person has worked. A person can earn up to four work credits per year based on their earnings during each quarter of the year. You currently need to earn $1,890 during a quarter to earn one credit. The earnings needed for a work credit change each year.

A person generally requires 40 work credits, with 20 earned within 10 years of the onset of a disability, to be entitled to benefits through the SSDI program. However, fewer credits may be required for workers disabled at a younger age.

If you do not have enough work credits, you cannot be covered by the SSDI program. It happens on occasion that a person’s work history may appear long enough for the SSDI program, but they may not have worked the entire time at jobs that did not require payment of Social Security payroll taxes.

As a result, they did not earn enough work credits to be covered by the SSDI program. If you find yourself in this position, speak to a disability attorney at Sackett Law who can review your work history and discuss available options. One option could be disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income program that does not require a work history.

Insufficient Medical Documentation

You must be disabled to be approved for SSDI benefits, but the Social Security Administration’s definition excludes short-term and partial disability. According to the Social Security definition, a person is disabled when they cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

“Medically determinable” means there is objective medical evidence to prove the condition. The condition must be severe enough to keep the person from being able work for at least 12 months or result in death. Applications that do not have medical evidence proving the person has a disability meeting the criteria of the definition will be denied benefits.

The disability professionals at Sackett Law gather the medical evidence needed to support your claim for SSDI benefits. They also work closely with your healthcare providers to ensure they respond promptly to requests by Social Security for medical records.

Rushing Through Preparation of an Application For SSDI

You’re in a hurry to get the process started, so you rush to fill out the application for SSDI. Mistakes, missing information, or inconsistencies can lead to processing delays or a denial of the claim.

Take the time before you start to gather the information and documents that you’ll need to complete the application for SSDI benefits, including:

1. Personal information, including your Social Security number, date of birth, and where you were born.
2. Date and place of marriage along with the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of your spouse and former spouse, if any.
3. Names and contact information for healthcare providers.
4. A list of all medications.
5. Medical tests completed or scheduled.

The disability professionals work to ensure the accuracy and completeness of your application before submission by reviewing it for the common SSDI mistakes that result in claim examiners having to request corrections or additional information. Failing to respond could result in your claim being denied.

Failing To Comply with Deadlines

You can appeal denied SSDI California claims, but you have only a limited time to submit a request. If you miss the deadline, you could lose the right to appeal. Sackett Law disability attorneys ensure that all deadlines are met and SSDI procedures are followed.

Avoid Common SSDI Mistakes with an SSDI Attorney

Throughout Northern California and nationwide, the disability professionals at Sackett and Associates are committed to using their considerable skills and experience to get you through the SSDI approval process. If you applied and received a Social Security disability denial CA, we can help. Contact Sackett Law today for a free consultation.