People who have severe medical conditions that render them unable to work may have the option to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. For many SSDI applicants, the application process can seem complex and confusing. As a result, many people have come to believe various myths about the SSDI program. We’ve tackled five of the most common myths about Social Security disability benefits so you can understand how they can help you.
Common Myths About SSD Benefits That We Frequently Hear
Some of the top Social Security myths we hear include:
#1. Social Security denies everyone the first time they apply.
Although the Social Security Administration does deny a majority of disability benefits applications upon first review, approximately a quarter of applicants get their applications approved upon a first review. Most initial denials occur because of insufficient documentation of a qualifying disability. As a result, applicants can improve their chances of getting approved for benefits on the first review of their Social Security Disability claim by carefully completing their application and submitting all available documentation of their disability.
#2. If you try to go back to work while receiving disability benefits, you will lose your Medicare or Medicaid coverage.
A person receiving SSDI benefits will not immediately lose Medicare/Medicaid coverage if they try to return to the workforce. You will continue to have Medicare/Medicaid coverage as long as you receive benefit checks. SSDI recipients can earn a small amount of income without jeopardizing their eligibility for benefits. The Social Security Administration also maintains a program that offers SSDI recipients a nine-month trial program if they wish to try returning to work. During this program, recipients can earn income above the threshold while continuing to receive benefit checks. Finally, if SSDI recipients successfully return to work, their Medicare coverage can continue for up to 93 months after their benefit checks stop.
#3. If your doctor says you’re disabled, you are automatically entitled to start receiving disability benefits.
The Social Security Administration has disability examiners who review applicants’ medical documentation to determine whether an applicant has a qualifying disability. The disability examiner may find that you do not have a qualifying disability, even if your doctor has diagnosed you with a disability. However, the SSA considers some medical conditions so severe that they automatically qualify someone for SSDI, such as certain cancers or ALS. However, you can work with your doctor to provide supporting documentation and testimony to demonstrate to the disability examiner that you have a qualifying disability.
#4. Once you start receiving disability benefits, they will continue for the rest of your life.
SSDI benefits do not automatically continue for life. Instead, SSDI benefits can end in two ways. First, suppose an SSDI recipient recovers from their disability and returns to the workforce to earn substantial income. In that case, the Social Security Administration will deem the recipient no longer disabled and stop their benefit checks. A recipient’s SSDI benefits will also end once they reach full retirement age, at which point SSDI benefits simply convert to standard Social Security retirement benefits.
#5. Applicants wait years for approval.
Although the SSDI application process takes time, most recipients do not have to wait years to get approved for benefits. In most cases, the application process can take up to one year, particularly for applicants who request reconsideration of a denied application or appeal to the SSA’s Appeals Council. However, the Social Security Administration offers expedited review of SSDI benefit applications to applicants who claim disability due to a health condition included on the SSA’s “Compassionate Allowance” list. The SSA also offers expedited review to applicants with terminal health conditions or who face eviction or foreclosure.
Even if an applicant must wait for approval of their SSDI application, the Social Security Administration may offer back pay for benefits a recipient should have received while waiting for approval.
Navigating the SSDI Process
A person may get approved for SSDI benefits if they have a severe medical condition that prevents them from working or performing other substantial gainful activity, that condition has lasted at least 12 months or is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and the applicant has sufficient work history.
Applicants may apply for SSDI benefits online, by calling the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number to schedule an appointment, or by visiting a local Social Security office. An SSDI application will contain several categories of information, including:
- Your personal information, information about your current and former spouse(s), and information about any workers’ compensation or disability benefits you receive
- Information about your medical conditions, including copies of your medical records, lists of medications you take, and contact information for your healthcare providers
- Your professional history, including the jobs you’ve held (including self-employment), the dates you worked in those jobs, and the education you’ve completed
You must also submit documentation proving your citizenship or lawful permanent residency.
You can ask a family member, friend, or legal representative to help you with your application.
The SSA will confirm applicants’ nonmedical eligibility, including their citizenship/lawful residency and work history. Then, the SSA will transfer the claim to the state’s Disability Determination Services office to determine whether the applicant has a qualifying disability or medical condition. Once a disability examiner determines the applicant’s medical condition, the SSA will send the applicant a letter notifying them whether the SSA has approved or denied their application.
When the SSA denies an SSDI application, the applicant can request reconsideration of the decision. If the SSA denied the application again on reconsideration, the applicant may request a hearing before an administrative law judge. If the judge rules against the applicant, they may appeal to the SSA’s Appeals Council, which may deny review, issue a decision, or return the claim to the administrative law judge for further consideration.
Contact Our Oklahoma Disability Lawyers for Help
When you are ready to apply for Social Security disability benefits, get the legal help you need to navigate the application process. Contact Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how our Oklahoma Social Security disability attorneys can assist you with filing your application and securing the government benefits you need.
This post was originally published in September 2020 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in May 2024.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
