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Monday, June 15, 2009

SSI Disability Setbacks

Application for disability benefits under the Social Security Administration often entails hardship. Whether SSD or SSI, various reasons cause the delay of its approval.

By its very nature, the disability claim process utilized by the SSA is lengthy and difficult to get through.

This might not be a problem for those individuals who have been awarded benefits early at the initial level of their disability application. But for individuals whose applications have been denied, a request for reconsideration can even prolong the application procedure. In case of denial of such request, an appeal could even make the waiting period worse.

Delay in the claim procedure could also be attributed to the applicant’s medical evidence. This evidence is vital to determine the physical and mental condition of the applicant. It would also apprise the SSA of the things that the claimant could and could not do.

If upon assessment, it was discovered that the applicant’s residual function is severe that substantial gainful activity could no longer be perform, chances are the disability claim would be approved.

Without medical evidence showing residual function of an applicant, disability examiners and disability judges would be inclined to use medical records.

However, medical records often do not establish whether or not the disability of the claimant is covered by the SSA’s definition of disability. This could be of little use even if the records show claimant’s condition.

With the above setbacks, no wonder disability claims take months and even years to settle. When it happens, it is advised that an applicant employ a disability lawyer to speed up the process.