Start Here to Get Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security Disability benefits provide financial relief and stress relief that you seriously need when you get hit with health problems that put you out of work and cut off your income.
You might have heard, though, that they deny people all time.
You want to know how to apply for disability in Phoenix, so you have a chance.
Here’s what to know first when you’re thinking about applying for disability benefits:
- You will qualify for benefits if you can prove that you can’t work. You must be unable to work full time for at least a year to get disability benefits. The reason you can’t work must be bad health. And you have to prove it.
- Apply for disability benefits as soon as you realize you can’t work because of your health. The process is long, so don’t wait. You don’t have to be out of work a year to apply. Apply even if you think there’s a chance you’ll recover. Waiting too long can make Social Security think you don’t truly need help.
- You can apply online, over the phone, or in a Social Security office. Those are all options when you’re applying for disability benefits, but Social Security is difficult to deal with. You can get a disability lawyer to handle it for you.
Slepian Ellexson disability lawyers are here for people in Phoenix who need to apply for disability benefits. We can help you from the first step. We can guide you all the way through.
Our Social Security Disability attorneys have helped thousands of people for over 47 years.
Our mission is to get you to a better situation when you’re facing difficult times. Keep reading for more on how to apply for disability in Phoenix, or contact us today to talk about your case.
First, Gather the Information You Need to Apply for Disability Benefits
Before you sit down to fill out disability application forms, our Phoenix Social Security Disability lawyers find that it’s best, and it makes it easier, if you gather up the key information you’ll need first.
This includes:
- Contact information for doctors and health centers you’ve used
- Dates of doctor visits, treatments, surgeries and hospitalizations
- Reports from doctor exams
- Results from medical tests
- Results from medical imaging like MRIs and X-rays
- Lists of prescription medications you take
- Descriptions of medical equipment or assistive devices you need
- When your health problems began
- When you had to stop working
- Statements from friends and family about your medical conditions
- A list of your jobs and employers in recent years
- Details of your job duties
- Financial records showing your income and assets
When you apply for disability benefits in Phoenix, a Slepian Ellexson disability lawyer can help you with this legwork.
With our decades of experience, we know what paperwork you need and how to get it.
You don’t have to pay us to start working on your claim and gathering these documents. You only pay an attorney fee when you win disability benefits.
Get started by having our Phoenix disability law firm team give you a FREE EVALUATION of your claim.
Tips on Applying for Disability: Filling out the Forms Correctly
Once you start filling out all the forms for your Social Security Disability application, stick to these tips that our Phoenix disability lawyers have found, over and over, to give you the best chance of winning benefits:
- Answer every question. Don’t leave things blank. Even if you sometimes have to say, “I don’t know,” it’s better to respond than say nothing at all.
- Give correct information. Check as best you can that the information you give is right. If Social Security finds factual errors, it could hurt your disability application.
- Give consistent answers. Another hazard to your disability claim is if Social Security sees you giving information in one part of your application that conflicts with another answer.
- Don’t hold back. Don’t be shy about sharing just how much your health problems make you struggle. Small details from everyday life about functions you just can’t perform can be powerful. Sometimes people smooth over their story out of politeness or pride. This can hurt your case.
- Don’t exaggerate. At the same time, don’t go further than the limitations you truly face. Social Security can spot when you’re overdoing it. They’ll also look at doctors’ reports and other medical evidence. If you’re exaggerating your situation, they’ll deny your benefits.
When it comes to forms, Social Security Disability has a lot.
There’s your initial application itself (Application for Disability Insurance Benefits, Form SSA-16). There’s a form for details of your health problems (Adult Disability Report, Form SSA-3368-BK). There’s a form for details of your work background (Work History Report, Form SSA-3369-BK).
Those are just a few of many.
A skilled Social Security Disability lawyer can help as you’re applying for disability in Phoenix. Slepian Ellexson attorneys guide you through the forms, so you know you’re doing it right.
We can ask you questions you might not think of to get the information you need for a successful benefits application.
Work with us to ease the process, get the best chance of winning benefits, and get on your way to greater financial stability and peace.
