Tip number 12

Once you have social security do whatever you can; however minimal to volunteer or become employable. If you are trying to become employable again, use Vocational Rehabilitation and get involved with programs that allow you to deduct expenses that allow you to work. This can add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Tip number 11

It is possible to get someone approved for SSI or SSDI who is unwilling or unable to complete evaluations because of paranoia or other psychological barriers; however, specific behavioral observations and quotations should be well documented.

Always, if someone helps with the application process, write this clearly on the application.

Tip number 10

Ask Social Security to provide copies of notification for appointments to a friend and/or family member.

Tip number 9

Contrary to what social security may tell you, provide all reports at the time of application. They may still send you to their doctors; however, this information will speed up the process and paint a more complete picture at the beginning.
If you apply on line you will not be able to do this. You can also apply on the phone; however, I do not recommend this. It is better to take your time and a phone process can press you for time.
Whether you apply on paper or on line, be sure that you include complete names and addresses for every physician, hospital, clinic, and any other health care worker who can verify any part of your disability.

Tip number 8

When describing education, it is often important to provide your functional ability. Unfortunately, applicants with a high school diploma may actually be functionally illiterate. This paints a very different picture to the claims examiner. If someone graduated high school, but with a special education diploma, this must be clearly stated.

Tip number 7

Give an honest, appropriate picture of what you are typically able to do on a typical day. You can write what you can do on a typical day, your best days and your worst days and explain how many days a week you would be able to do each.

Tip number 6

Be involved with some sort of self-sufficiency activity to the extent possible, even if just two to three hours per week, even if it is only volunteer work. This does a number of things for you. It helps you to feel better about yourself, it also provides additional references for what you are actually able to do and what you can not do. I can explain this further if you have additional questions.

Tip number 5

Be sure you are in treatment for whatever the condition(s).

Tip number 4

Give complete information about practitioners and hospitals, making sure you list someone to verify each disabling condition, even if you have to add pages.

Tip number 3

Have physical and psychiatric evaluations completed before the application is done. There should provide specific kinds of objective information. A helpful publication is "Disability Evaluation Under Social Security" (SSA publication #05-10089) (There may be a more current publication)

Tip number 2.

List all disabling conditions, both physical and psychological. A disabling condition in one body system usually affects another. People with a lot of pain, often have at least some depression and/or anxiety. List everything.
I remember one person who was applying for disability because of arthritis. He had worked driving a delivery truck all his life but the arthritis got to the point where he could no longer drive. The questions only asked why he couldn't work. He responded "arthritis" and was denied. He failed to mention that he was also deaf because deafness had never kept him from working. Once the whole picture was painted and his total condition was understood, he was approved.

Tip number one

Always type the disability report if at all possible. If someone helps you do this, mention this specifically. When a disability determination worker has piles of applications and yours it typed and it is late in the day, yours is easier to read and will be appreciated.

Introduction

A number of years ago I worked with single adults with disabilities. Part of my job was to help these people become employable and find employment. We were very successful. Part of my job was to help those who could not work, apply for needed benefits, including SSI, SSDI or other programs. We were very successful. 80% of our applications were approved on the first application. If you know anything about this process you will understand that this was a phenomenal result.

Before continuing though, it is important to understand that if at all possible, work, it is best to be self-sufficient to the greatest extent possible. Sometimes though, you can not work, at least not enough to support yourself and/or your family. In that case, there are programs to help out. If you do get SSI or SSDI, there are also programs to help you to be able to work without loosing benefits. Talk with your local vocational rehabilitation about programs you can engage in where you can deduct expenses from working. This allows you to earn more money before loosing benefits.
Some conditions are automatic, such as blindness.
Most of the time you do not have to pay someone to help you; however, if you are disabled enough to be eligible, you will probably need someone to help you, such as a friend or family member.