The Application Process

Social Security Disability Info Center

Even if you do not have a long or recent work history, you still may be eligible for disability benefits if you have a medical or mental health condition that keeps you from being able to be employed. Supplemental Security Income is available to those who are disabled and have limited income and resources. Supplemental Security Income is a federally funded program; it is not supported by deductions from paychecks. At the Charlotte law office of Hempson & Zupanec, we can assist you with disability claims even if you do not have a significant work history. Please contact us for a free initial consultation.

The Social Security Disability Application Process

Are you no longer able to work due to disease, injury, or some other medical or mental health condition? If so, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits. During the course of your employment, you contributed money from each paycheck into a fund managed by Social Security to assist those who become disabled and can no longer participate in the workforce. You want to continue to work, but you just can’t. At Hempson & Zupanec, our lawyers can help you secure the benefits you may deserve. Contact us for a free initial consultation.

If you become disabled and your condition is expected to last for at least one year (or end in death), consider applying for Social Security Disability benefits. The sooner you start the application process, the less time you will have to wait for your benefits. The process can take a long time and require intensive documentation. It may be necessary to appeal a negative decision. The help of an attorney from Hempson & Zupanec in Charlotte, North Carolina, can guide you through the complex and demanding process.

When to File

To qualify for benefits, a person must be disabled for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. Thus, it may not be a good idea for a person to file an application for benefits as soon as he or she becomes unable to work. If a person files long before the end of the 12-month period, it may be difficult to prove that the disability will last for at least one full year. The initial decision can take a number of months. If your claim is denied — which happens in a large majority of cases — the time it takes to appeal can last a year, two years or longer, depending on where you live. It is often wise to start early.

Where to File

To apply for Social Security Disability benefits, you need to complete an application and an Adult Disability Report (or a Child Disability Report, if you are applying on behalf of your child). You may fill out the application and report on the Social Security Administration's Web site, on the telephone or in person at a Social Security office.

Information You Will Need

The Social Security Disability application and report will ask for your work history and your medical history. Your medical history includes the doctors you have visited for your disability, the medications you have taken and the medical records that are in your possession. You will need to sign a release so that Social Security may speak with your doctors and review your medical history.

If you have an appointment with Social Security but you do not have all the information you think you will need, Social Security advises that you keep the appointment anyway. The employees will assist you in gathering the rest of the information.

You may be required to undergo a medical examination at no cost to you. It is important to attend this appointment in order to keep the process moving along and provide Social Security with the information it needs.

Consult an Attorney

The application process for Social Security Disability benefits may seem intimidating. The more information you have and the earlier you begin, however, the sooner you may qualify for benefits. An attorney from Hempson & Zupanec in Charlotte, North Carolina, can answer your Social Security Disability benefits questions and help you through the qualification process.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

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