When Should I File for Social Security Disability?

If you have a disability that prevents you from earning much income and is expected to last at least a year, you should apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) right away.

It can take a long time, sometimes years, before your claim for disability is approved. The good news is that once your claim is eventually approved, you will receive back pay for the past months that you were eligible to receive disability. Only 30% of applications for SSDI and SSI are approved.

Many people make the mistake of giving up when their claim is denied.

What you need to do as soon as your application is denied is apply for a reconsideration appeal. A reconsideration appeal basically means that your claim will be sent back to Disability Determination Services (DDS), the agency responsible for approving disability claims, so they can take a second look at it. Unfortunately, only very few reconsideration appeals are approved; however, if your reconsideration appeal is denied, your next appeal will be for a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. Social Security Disability hearings are where most disability claims are approved.

Do not delay applying for Social Security Disability, it will be a long process.

If you have been denied disability benefits in the past, or if you are thinking about applying for SSDI or SSI, take advantage of free consultations offered by most disability attorneys. Disability attorneys only get paid if you win your case, and their pay is regulated by the Social Security Administration and is typically a percentage of your back pay. Click here to contact an experienced disability attorney in the San Diego or Los Angeles area, serving all of Southern California.