Filing a Social Security Disability Claim In Kansas City
For adults, filing a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim can be done in person, through a paper application, or online.
To ensure that your application is properly presented, a lawyer may help you filing a Social Security disability claim in Kansas City. Call an experienced and knowledgeable SSDI attorney today.
When to Apply for SSDI
The SSDI application process can be lengthy. By applying as soon as you become disabled, you increase the chances that your payments will begin as close as possible to the time the SSA approves your application.
The SSA does have a five month waiting period on payments from the date that the SSA finds a person disabled. This means benefits are not payable until the sixth month of disability. But not every disability has a waiting period, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There are also ways to fast-track applications for specific disorders.
How To Apply for SSDI
For many, the easiest way to apply for SSDI benefits is online. Many people are unable to apply on their own or are overwhelmed by the process. If you work with a Kansas City attorney, they can help you with filing your online Social Security disability claim.
Basic Information
Before you begin the application process, you must know what information you need to complete the forms, such as:
- Your full name
- Social Security number
- Birth date and birthplace
- Current spouse’s name (if applicable), Social Security number, and date of birth.
- Past spouse’s name (if applicable), Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death, if applicable.
- The dates and places of marriages and divorces
Contact Information
In addition to asking you for information, the SSA may also want contact information from other sources. If you have workers’ compensation for a workplace injury, you need your workers’ comp claim number, date of injury, and settlement agreement.
Health Information
The SSA will rely on the information that you provide about your health. Your healthcare records should be available to help you fill out the forms. The SSA states that you do not need to make special requests to get extra healthcare records, but it may be easier to file if you have that information.
You need the name and contact information of healthcare providers, including:
- Doctors
- Physical therapists
- Nurse practitioners
- Therapists
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
You should also list other sources of evidence that may be helpful to your claim. These might include vocational rehabilitation reports, short-term or long-term disability files, and documents about medical leave, such as FMLA.
With that identifying information, the SSA should be able to request any medical records you do not have.
Medical and Work History
The application will also ask you to list your current medications and dosages, the prescribing doctor, and why they were prescribed. If you have undergone any medical testing, you can also provide information about that testing.
In addition to healthcare information, you need your work history. List all jobs you have held in the past five years, the hours you worked, what you earned, and the month and year you started and stopped the job.
You also want to list your professional background, including your education, vocational training, or other relevant work experience or training. A Kansas City lawyer can assist you with filing a Social Security disability claim.
Learn More About Filing a Social Security Disability Claim in Kansas City
While the disability application process appears straightforward, making mistakes can delay or even result in an initial denial of your claim.
Having a lawyer help file a Social Security disability claim in Kansas City can make the process go more smoothly. Schedule a consultation to learn more.
