If you are pursuing financial support through a Social Security Disability Insurance claim, it is because you have a medical condition that prevents you from earning a gainful income. A disability may represent the possibility of financial difficulty as you struggle to find ways to provide for yourself, including your basic daily needs and your medical care. It is important for you to secure disability benefits, and a denied claim can be devastating.
A denied claim is a setback, and while disappointing, there are still options available to you. There is an appeals process that provides Illinois applicants the opportunity to keep seeking benefits. The majority of initial disability claims come back denied, and you may find it helpful to learn more about how you can fight for the support you need and deserve.
Reasons for a denied claim
The Social Security Administration may deny a claim for various reasons. The first step in the appeals process will be to identify why the claim came back denied. The SSA typically denies claims for one of the following reasons:
- Your disabling condition will likely not last for at least one year.
- You are able to continue doing your normal job or another type of work.
- You did not include enough medical evidence and documentation in the claim.
- It is not clear if you followed the doctor’s medical instructions.
- You returned to work before proving you have a disability.
Once you understand why your initial claim was not successful, you can move forward with the process of asking for a reconsideration of the application. In order to refute the reason for the denial, you will need to submit additional evidence and documentation for your claim. This may include lab findings, clinical results, new test results, medical records and more.
The path to a successful claim
It is not easy to secure disability benefits from the SSA, even with a valid claim. You will benefit from preparing your application as thoroughly as possible before you submit, but you may still have to pursue a reconsideration. Whether you are gathering documentation for your initial claim, seeking an appeal of a denied claim or simply want to know more about what to expect from the claims process, you may find it helpful to pursue an understanding of your legal options.
