If you have suffered an injury or developed a medical condition that has prevented you from working, you might be worried about your financial well-being. Fortunately, you could be eligible to collect disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, the timeline to receive Findlay Social Security Disability benefits can be lengthy and depends on the claim.
Our skilled SSDI attorneys have successfully helped many disabled individuals through the application process and waiting period. We can offer you advice and guidance and help address your concerns.
Unfortunately, receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits often takes a long time.
First, many disabled individuals in Findlay and the surrounding area have to wait a long time to receive an initial decision about whether they qualify for SSDI benefits, often three to six months. The process takes so long because the SSA needs to carefully review each application, which includes medical records such as your doctor’s reports and documentation of functional limitations, as well as your work history and work credits. If your doctor delays sending your records, or if the SSA requires an additional medical evaluation or other information, the process can take longer.
Unfortunately, the SSA denies a large portion of initial applications for SSDI benefits. If they deny your application, you have 60 days to file a request for reconsideration, and that review process also takes time. If they reject your request for reconsideration, you have an additional 60 days to request an appeal hearing with an administrative law judge. The entire wait to receive a positive decision can take several months to a few years.
Fortunately, our experienced lawyers can help speed up the process. We can help you avoid common errors in your initial application that could amount to delays, and we can help follow up with medical providers and other sources so the SSA promptly receives all the necessary information. We know the correct procedure to check the status of your application with the SSA.
If the outcome is positive, you will receive an award letter from the SSA explaining the decision and letting you know when your benefits (in the form of monthly payments) will start. Your payments will be in arrears, which means that each will be for the prior month.
There is a mandatory five-month waiting period before you can start receiving your SSDI benefits. This period begins on the first full month after the SSA determines your disability started. For example, if you became disabled on May 15, the earliest month you would be entitled to begin receiving SSDI benefits would be November.
Because the waiting period for approval to receive SSDI benefits in Findlay and the surrounding area often takes longer than six months, this five-month period does not usually affect the timeline. Our dedicated local lawyers can help you understand how the benefits payment process works.
After becoming disabled, you might worry about the lengthy timeline to receive Findlay Social Security Disability benefits. Our seasoned legal team at Schaffer & Associates can help.
Contact our office today so we can help you build a strong claim and minimize the chance that a procedural mistake could slow the process down.