It is pretty rare for anyone to enjoy interacting with the Social Security Administration, in no small part because of how confusing the Administration’s rules can be and how long it takes them to decide whether you have complied with them. However, if you have been disabled to the point that you can no longer work, Social Security Disability Insurance benefits may be crucial to protecting your best interests in the short term and the long term—and that means sending an application to the SSA.
The Summerlin SSDI application process is not an especially complicated one compared to those for many other government programs. However, there are still multiple steps involved, and even a small mistake or omission during one of them could lead to you missing out on much-needed financial support. Fortunately, you have help getting through this experience from the compassionate SSDI lawyers at Shook & Stone.
Where and How to File for SSDI Benefits
The easiest way to start the SSDI application process in Summerlin—or anywhere else in Nevada, for that matter—is by filling out and submitting an application through the SSA’s online portal. In addition to important identifying information like your name, birth date and location, and Social Security number, you will also need to provide as much information as possible about:
- Your disabling medical condition
- Your work history prior to getting hurt or sick
- How you meet the specific qualifying criteria for SSDI benefits in both regards
Alternatively, you can call the SSA toll-free between 8 AM and 7 PM at 1-800-772-1213, or at 1-800-325-0778 during the same times on weekdays if you are deaf or hard of hearing and need “TTY” services. Then, a representative from the SSA can schedule an appointment for you to appear in a local SSA field office and apply for SSDI benefits in person. Whether you apply in person or online, though, you generally have 60 days at most after starting the application process to file all relevant forms and documents to complete your petition.
What Happens After an SSDI Petition Is Submitted?
After receiving a completed application for SSDI from a Summerlin, Rhodes Ranch, Sovana, or Sun City resident, the SSA will review the submitted materials to determine whether the applicant meets the “non-medical” requirements for SSDI benefits—in other words, whether they obtained enough work credits prior to becoming disabled. If the applicant meets those requirements, the SSA will forward the application to the Office of Disability Determination Services for the state of Nevada, which will assign the application to a disability adjudicator within their office.
This adjudicator will solicit medical reports from every provider you list in your application as having treated you for your disability, with the goal being to establish that you meet the SSA’s criteria for what counts as a “disability” for the purposes of SSDI benefits. If DDS decides that those criteria are met, they will send the approved application back to the SSA, which will then notify the applicant by mail of the final decision on their petition.
A Summerlin Attorney Can Explain the SSDI Application Process in More Detail
There are numerous places within the Summerlin SSDI application process listed above where a petition could get sidetracked by a procedural error or a dispute over your eligibility for benefits. Getting past those roadblocks—or even better, avoiding them to begin with—can be tough for anyone to manage alone, a fact backed up by the hundreds of thousands of claim denials that the SSA sends out each year.
If you want to maximize your chances of achieving a successful outcome from your petition, you should make contacting and retaining a skilled SSDI lawyer from Shook & Stone your top priority. Schedule a free consultation by calling today.
