Of the 11 million people living in Florida, about 450,000 claim social security and disability benefits. To do so, they must meet the requirements that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has established. And while it may seem like a simple process, it’s not uncommon for legitimate claims to be denied. Unfortunately, many people who are denied social security and disability benefits simply give up, assuming that an appeal will just result in another denial. Here are 4 reasons why you shouldn’t.
Reason #1 – You’re Actually Disabled
The simple fact is that many denials aren’t fair. In some cases, the state may misunderstand your disability. Or, a paperwork error may lead to an inaccurate claim that causes a denial. All claims go through the Division of Disability Determinations in Florida, and it’s entirely possible that they made an error somewhere in the process. Giving up after the first attempt doesn’t account for these potential errors. You may just need to submit more accurate records and documents.
Reason #2 – You Have Limited Time
Many people make the mistake of thinking that they have no option once they receive a refusal. But that’s not the case at all. Your denial notice should have a date printed on it. Typically, you’ll have 60 days from the date on the notice to file an appeal. Unfortunately, you’ll rarely be able to file an appeal after this date passes, which means that you’ll have to start the whole process again. This time constraint is one of the main reasons why you should start the appeal process as soon as you receive your denial notice.
Reason #3 – You Can Ask for Different Examiners
When filing an appeal, you can ask for a different group of examiners to evaluate your case. This reduces the risk of the previous group refusing the appeal in the belief that they got it right the first time. A fresh set of eyes may see something that the first group missed.
Reason #4 – You Can Add More Evidence to the Claim
Many people don’t realize that they can resubmit a different claim when they file for an appeal. The SSA allows you to add extra documents to your appeal, which means that if you’re more thorough the second time around, you can build an even stronger case. This is important since many denials are a result of inadequate documentation. Adding more evidence to your social security application might give examiners enough to overturn the original decision. Such evidence may include proof that you’re unable to work due to your condition, as well as medical records and other documents you may have forgotten to include with your initial application.
Reapply Today
If your social security and disability claim was recently denied, all is not lost. You do have options, and with a good attorney on your side, you’ll increase the likelihood of the original denial being overturned. Contact Fetterman & Associates today at 561-845-2510 to schedule a consultation to discuss the specifics of your claim.