The disability application process is complicated, backlogged
Today, more people than ever before are applying for Social Security disability benefits. According to Disabled World, about 775,000 people in Arizona have some form of work disability. The Social Security system is flooded with applications, and people applying for help can experience lengthy delays and a nightmarish denial and appeals process.
There are several reasons for the skyrocketing amount of people applying for disability. Many might assume that too many people are trying to take advantage of the system, but that isn’t often the case. Instead, the U.S. Baby Boomer population is aging, says the Times Union, and more seniors are having problems retiring in today’s economy. Unfortunately, many of them are suffering from increasing health problems, but are finding themselves phased out of the work force by younger, more skilled workers.
Delays and denials complicate the process
The Social Security Resource Center claims that most people applying for disability are greeted with a wait of longer than three or four months to find out the status of their applications. And it isn’t just mildly disabled people who are experiencing difficulties. One woman with advanced breast cancer was unable to work due to her pain, as reported by USA Today. Social Security denied her claim, and she found out it could take a year just to get a hearing for her appeal. She worried about how she could pay her bills while getting chemotherapy.
Disability applicants might run into snags due to the following common Social Security problems:
- Some disabled people who worked lost their jobs and were unable to find employment that accommodated their disability.
- Baby Boomers are retiring or becoming injured and unable to work.
- Applicants often don’t supply the proper evidence to prove a disability.
- Judges’ approval decisions vary by region.
- Some conditions aren’t commonly accepted for benefits or are hard to prove.
The application process can be frustrating and discouraging for many first-time applicants, but for those who are unable to work, filing an appeal may be necessary.
Contacting a disability lawyer for help
Many disability recipients will say that it’s next to impossible to get approved for disability today without the help of a lawyer. An experienced disability attorney will know how to file a claim, gather together the paperwork to prove a disability and fight for an appeal. Those who are unable to work need a strong advocate to protect their rights and get them the help they deserve.