Application process and checklist for applying for social security disability and SSI benefits

The initial application is the beginning of the process. Whether you are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both, an initial application is needed. This can be done through an attorney’s assistance or on your own at www.ssa.gov. It may also be done by contacting Social Security at 800-772-1213.

Social security has a checklist to gather information before applying:

Checklist for Online Adult Disability Application (ssa.gov)

SSDI benefits, of course, are based on "insured status, which is essentially based on a person's work history and how much they have paid into the system, i.e. work credits that have been earned over a number of years.

SSI, on the other hand, is not based on insured status, but, rather, is intended for individuals 1) who have not worked long enough to qualify for SSDI, or 2) who have not worked enough or earned enough in recent years to remain qualified for SSDI, or 3) who do qualify for SSDI but would only receive a small monthly benefit check.

Social Security has a couple of ways to file disability applications. You can do so in person or over the phone, or you can do so by filing a disability application online. Because of Covid-19 the in person option is not available. The online process  does not allow you to ask questions and have them answered, and the online process can be confusing.

During your disability interview, you will speak to an SSA claims representative about your disabling conditions, your work history (what types of jobs you have had during the fifteen years prior to the onset of your disability), and your medical treatment history.

The claims representative will need the names of all your treating physicians (defined as a physician who has a history of providing you treatment and is therefore qualified to comment on your condition), and will also need the full names and addresses--and phone numbers if possible--of every source of treatment you have gone to. Social Security will also need your dates of treatment, a list of your current medications, and a list of all testing, if any, you have undergone.

Additionally, you will need to inform Social Security about the types of work that you performed in the fifteen years prior to your disability. Why 15 years? This period is known as "the relevant period" and it is considered relevant because SSA assumes that work that you performed longer than 15 years ago may not utilized skills that are applicable, or transferrable, to present day jobs.

Social Security will need information about your marriages, children, income, resources, and military service dates to process non-medical requirement issues that are involved in the disability claims process.

You should also be prepared to at least provide the names and dates of birth for all of your minor-age children, as well as adult disabled children if this applies. Why is this important? Children sometimes are able to receive some benefits on your record if they are minors (under age 19), or if they are adult disabled children (children who were disabled prior to the age of 22).

If you have military service, you should be able to give your dates of service, your branch of service, and your rank at your discharge. It is most helpful if you can provide your DD214 discharge paper. There are times that military service increases the amount of Social Security Disability that you can be paid.

Income and resource (assets) information is needed primarily if you are filing for Supplemental Security Income disability a.k.a. SSI disability. Having said that, SSD, or Social Security Disability, needs information about Workers Compensation and public disability program benefits you may have received because workman’s compensation and public disability program benefits may offset Social Security Disability benefits.

If you need helping applying for Social Security Disability or SSI, please contact me at joshben99@gmail.com. I have over 20 years experience with Social Security Disability cases.