Each year, thousands of people see their claims for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) denied or delayed.
A recent report on Social Security Disability (SSD) by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights the importance of having your claim approved the first time around.
Why is getting your SSDI claim approved the first time so vital?
The report found that 67% of those who applied for SSDI had their claims denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA) the first time they filed.
Does that mean that only 33% of the people who filed for disability benefits had valid claims? Not at all. What it shows is that the claim process is incredibly challenging to get right. That is why you should seek an attorney with experience filing SSDI claims.
The report also illustrates considerable problems with the appeals system and the lengthy delays associated with reconsiderations and hearings. Here are some of the concerning things the report highlighted:
- Bankruptcy: 50,000 applicants filed for bankruptcy between 2014 and 2019 while waiting for their claim to be approved. If you claim SSDI, it is because you cannot work. Without an income, you will have to rely on savings while waiting for the SSA to approve your claim. If you do not have sufficient savings, you might be unable to pay your mortgage or other bills and need to declare bankruptcy.
- Death: 109,000 people died while trying to claim benefits between 2008 and 2019. Some took their own life in frustration after their appeals were denied. Others died due to illnesses that the SSA refused to believe were severe enough to justify benefits.
When you work, a portion of your income goes toward Social Security insurance designed to cover you when you need it. Dying or going bankrupt in the process of claiming should not be an option.