Get The Social Security Benefits You Need

Once you are diagnosed with a condition that is likely to keep you out of work for longer than one year, you should file for SSD benefits. It can take quite a while for your claim to be processed, so the sooner you file, the better.

There is no way of knowing for certain whether your condition will qualify you for benefits. Two people with the same disability won’t necessarily both be approved. The key element is the severity of your condition—is it severe enough to keep you out of work for significant periods of time? Part of our job is to improve your odds of approval by collecting all necessary documents—such as records of your medical conditions, physical and mental restrictions, medications, and work history—and making sure your claim reflects all of the important factors in your case.

Many people who are dealing with chronic pain also experience depression and anxiety as they struggle with physical limitations and the inability to do all the things they used to do, such as working and providing for their families. If you are experiencing depression-like symptoms, talk with your doctors and make sure they are aware of your symptoms and that they address them appropriately. If necessary, seek additional help from a psychiatrist or psychologist. If your doctor is unable to treat your emotional problems, many county mental health departments offer this kind of care.

Depending at what level your claim gets approved, it generally takes three to 12 months for a claim to be evaluated at the initial application level. If a Request for Reconsideration is made, it generally takes an additional three to six months. If you make a Request for Hearing, then the average wait time in North Carolina is an additional 20 months. Unfortunately, the majority of claims must go to hearing, which means a total anticipated wait time of 25 to 36 months, and sometimes longer.

The amount of your monthly benefits is determined by your work history and how much you have paid into the Social Security tax system. Generally, the more you have worked and the higher your earnings, the more your monthly benefit will be. The amount of your monthly benefit is called your Primary Insured Amount or PIA.