Until you actually receive money in your bank account from the Social Security Administration, it can be hard to be certain that you have been approved for Social Security disability benefits. However, you or your attorney may see factors that indicate the likelihood of approval.
If you have questions and you’ve been working with an attorney, they should be able to provide guidance based on your particular case. Here are some general factors to keep in mind with regard to approval.
Receiving an Award Letter
Even though it may take some time to receive payment, receiving an award letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) notifying you that you have been approved for benefits is a reassuring sign and cause for celebration. All notices from the SSA include a heading with the agency name. The heading also generally includes the program involved, such as Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance and a term describing the type of notice. The notice should also include the telephone and address of your local field office.
Notice of approval might also come from the Office of Disability Adjudication Services or from the Office of Hearings Operations.
Your Notice of Award from the SSA will include information such as:
- The date the agency has determined that your disability began (the “disability onset” date)
- The dates your five-month waiting period will start and end (if applicable)
- How any past-due benefits are calculated, and how much those benefits will be
- How much you will receive each month
- What day benefits will be paid each month
If you need a copy of this award letter to verify your benefits to others, you can obtain a benefit verification letter from the SSA .
Your Condition is One That Automatically Qualifies for Benefits
Presenting solid medical evidence is the best way to get approved for disability benefits. If your case has the support of your doctor, you’ve gathered conclusive medical evidence, and your condition has prevented you from working for at least a year, you have a much better chance of approval.
However, your chances increase substantially if you have evidence showing that your medical condition is one on a particular list called the “compassionate allowances” list. These listed conditions essentially qualify for approval automatically. Conditions on the list include many forms of cancer, mixed dementias, certain heart conditions, and many neurological disorders. Your attorney can determine whether your condition is one that usually receives quick approval.
If your condition is not on the list, there is no need to worry. This list simply describes conditions known to meet the standards for disability benefits. Your condition may be one that has such variation in severity that an individual assessment is needed to determine that it meets the standards for benefits.
Burgess & Christensen Can Help You Get Approved for Disability Benefits
There are few guarantees when it comes to applying for disability benefits from the SSA. However, you can give yourself the best chance for success when you work with an experienced attorney who understands how to persuasively demonstrate your qualifications.
At Burgess & Christensen, we focus our practice on disability benefits, so we know how to succeed in obtaining benefits from the SSA. We can help you gather and present evidence to show the severity of your condition and how it prevents you from working so that you can obtain the benefits you need for support.
To find out more about how we can assist, schedule a free consultation with us today.