There are many reasons why someone might file for social security disability benefits (SSB). They could range from temporarily injuring yourself at work to being unable to work permanently.
Your condition may be affecting your life and your income, whether that includes lost wages or medical bills, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) needs facts before they can help you.
California’s social security benefits
In order to qualify for their benefits, you likely had to have worked for a company covered by social security. Your condition also needs to fall within their definition of disability.
California offers five different types of disability options. It can be difficult to determine which category your condition falls under, but with the right amount of information, you can better distinguish the differences to see which one might best fit you.
These are some of the possible benefits:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Disabled Widows and Widower’s Benefits
- Disabled Adult Child Benefits
- Children of Disabled Workers
Why rejection is common
The SSA is very strict when it comes to granting benefits. The federally regulated organization has one set of guidelines, but some states have their own specific guidelines within the federal guidelines.
While application rates differ from state to state, California’s SSB applications have increased to around 300 percent in the past three years. This influx of applications has caused the process to be extremely slow. What used to take three to four months, might now take a year.
Extreme scrutiny in cases ensure absolute need and helps to avoid fraud. Because of this, someone may receive rejection for the following reasons:
- Condition does not fall within SSA’s definition of disability
- Their skillsets make them capable enough to work elsewhere besides their old job
- Unidentifiable work history
- Inadequate medical evidence or explanation of their limiting capabilities to work
- Providing fraudulent documents
How can you help to improve your chances?
Some things you can do to get your application past the approval processes include: figuring out which disability category you fall under, making sure you understand the SSA’s definition of disability and obtaining accurate medical evidence from your medical provider.
It is important to remember that filing a disability claim can be complex and drawn out for many reasons, so it can be beneficial to stay hopeful and get the help you need.
