Waiting to hear back from the Social Security Administration (SSA) after applying for disability benefits can be anxiety-inducing for many people with disabilities. However, there are a few telltale signs you can use to predict whether or not your application will be approved.
For instance, it is very likely that you will be denied disability if your claim lacks any solid medical proof of a disability, if there have been any past denials, if your income exceeds the threshold allowed under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, or if there has been a failure to follow the recommended protocols.
Keep reading below as we discuss further signs that you will be denied disability benefits.
What is the Approval Rate for Disability?
Given that there are around 64 million people in the United States alone who suffer from a disability, it won’t be surprising to learn that the SSA receives a high volume of applications.
This is also the reason why, due to technical limitations, not every application can be given the attention that it rightfully deserves. This results in a large number of applications being denied at the initial stage of the process.
More than 60% of disability applications are turned down within the initial stage of the review process. Your initial application for disability benefits will likely be denied, even if you have a severe medical condition that prevents you from working.
In addition, 37% of those who want a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) are likewise denied, and 86% of applicants who appeal their denials and request Reconsideration are similarly denied.
However, the good news is that there is no limit to how many times you can reapply or appeal the SSA’s decision after you have been denied disability benefits. It may also be important to consult a disability attorney to make sure that you are doing everything right.
Signs That You Will Be Denied Disability
The following are some of the common telltale signs that you will be denied for disability.
1. Lack of Medical Evidence
The SSA makes sure that SSDI is available only to those individuals who really need it. It is intended for individuals who cannot return to work due to their disability. However, this disability needs to be “medically determinable” so that applicants can prove their disability to the SSA.
This requires that you have solid documentation backing up your claim. For example, even if you have been seeing a general care physician for your chronic fatigue, there will be no way of proving it to the SSA until and unless your doctor keeps records of all your visits, treatment protocols, and other documentation.
There is a misconception that once you have applied for Social Security Disability Benefits, the Social Security Administration will prepare for a medical checkup on your behalf in order to verify your disability.
While it is true that the SSA may send you for a medical checkup by their own doctors, it may still not be enough to prove your disability in the absence of further medical documentation.
The success of your application for Social Security Disability payments will largely depend on the medical records kept by your primary care providers. It is crucial that you tell your doctor about the effects your disability have on your ability to retain employment.
If at all feasible, add notes from the doctor excusing you from work or documentation proposing a reduced work schedule with your other medical documentation.
Make sure you document how much time you lost from employment because of your impairment if you were employed before you filed for disability. You can use this evidence in your application for Social Security Disability benefits.
2. Past Denials
If you’ve previously applied for disability benefits and were denied, it’s better to make an appeal rather than make another fresh application. In fact, if the disability examiner sees that you have been previously rejected for disability benefits, he/she may reject your new application without any further consideration.
3. High Income
This factor is only relevant to one kind of disability payment, and that is Supplemental Security Income or SSI. Unlike SSDI, SSI has financial requirements and an income threshold that mandate that your benefits be terminated or your claim be rejected if your income exceeds a certain amount.
In 2023, this amount will total $1,470. This is because, unlike SSDI, SSI is a needs-based program available only to those in dire financial circumstances. It’s important to remember that you can still work with SSI as long as your income stays below this threshold.
4. Non-Compliance with Treatment Recommendations
The SSA requires that you prove all efforts made towards managing your disability before you decide to apply for SSDI. This entails adhering to any treatment recommendations made by your primary care physician.
The reasoning behind this is that if you haven’t complied with the treatment recommendations, the SSA will be unable to determine whether or not your disability is treatable.
If you haven’t followed the treatment recommendations made by your primary care physician, you can still build a solid case for yourself by explaining in the appeal why you did not do so. But it might be helpful to consult a disability attorney before doing so as they are more familiar with the SSA’s rules and navigating the system.
5. Lack of Cooperation
Applying for disability benefits is an arduous task that involves a lot of frustration on both your part and the individuals processing your claim. However, it is still in your best interest to cooperate with the individuals processing your claim, irrespective of your feelings toward them.
Your claim will be denied if you do not submit the required paperwork to the Social Security office or if you do not appear for your scheduled medical checkups. Therefore, it’s crucial that you keep in touch with the caseworker and promptly provide any necessary paperwork.
Conclusion
Disability benefits are definitely hard to get. But there are a few things you can surely avoid while you complete your application. It may also be recommended to work with a disability attorney in order to facilitate the process.
