Disability Application Documents
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There is a lot of paperwork required in a disability application. If you don’t have all of the necessary paperwork your application will be denied, no matter how bad your disability is. Having all the paperwork, which Social Security requires for your application, by the time of your interview will speed up the application process. This process usually takes a minimum of 3-5 months before there is a decision. Whatever you do don’t miss your interview appointment. Even if you’re best efforts have failed and you don’t have all the paperwork on the checklist you must have the interview. Your interviewer may be able to help you get all the necessary paperwork, but don’t wait and depend on that.
Medical information
You need to take the time to get all the names, addresses and phone numbers of all doctors, hospitals and clinics that you have been treated by. You will also need to supply all the dates that you were seen on. Keeping a diary will help with this process. If you have any of your medical records at home you will want to gather them together so that you can give copies to Social Security. This would include hospital discharge instructions, therapy instructions, and any and all instructions from your doctor. There is one more item that you will need to provide with your application and that is your medical records number. You will want to get this number from all the doctors, hospitals, clinics and therapists you have been treated by.
Medications
You will need a list of all of the medications that you are taking. On this list you will need to keep track of medication and dose changes. You will also need to document the reason you are receiving each and every medication. If a dose has been changed or a medication stopped and a new one started, the date and reason for the change needs to be documented. This will help give the reviewer an accurate idea of the severity of your injury or illness. For Social Security an injury or illness is considered a condition.
Birth certificate
You will need to get your original birth certificate or a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you were born in the United States you can request one from the vital statistics bureau where you were born. The process of ordering a copy of your birth certificate will take a few weeks and usually a small fee is involved. Don’t wait to find or order your birth certificate. If you were not born in the United States than you will also need proof of legal residency or U.S. citizenship
Military
If you were ever in the military you will need to provide your discharge papers. If you served for more than one time period you will need discharge papers from all of your periods of active duty. You will need either the original or certified copies of all your discharge papers.
Work records
You will need your W-2 forms from the last year that you worked. If you were self- employed you will need to provide copies of your federal income tax return (1040) and Schedules C and SE. If you don’t have these you can order a copy from the IRS. You will also need any worker’s compensation information. Dates of injuries, claim numbers and proof of payment amounts will be required.
Work history
You will need to put together a complete and accurate job history for the last 15 years before you became unable to work. You will need to list the type of job, what you did on that job and the dates that you held each job. This can be difficult if you have changed jobs or moved a lot. If you were promoted or changed your work title while at the same job you need to have the dates and the corresponding pay change that went with those changes. It is important to provide information regarding any decrease in pay, workload or hours that have happened as a result of your condition.
Social Security Number
You will need not only your own Social Security Number but also your spouses (if applicable). You will also need to provide the Social Security Numbers of any and all minor children.
Banking information
Social Security requires all payments to be direct deposited. If you have a checking or savings account you will need to provide them with the numbers.
Contact information
Social Security requires information for a person that they may contact in case they are unable to get a hold of you. You will want to arrange with a relative or friend to use their name address and phone number as a point of contact. You will have to provide this information to Social Security along with your application.
Next Step: 5 Step Disability Determination
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