Credit: The Social Security Administration (SSA) advises workers to apply for disability benefits as soon as they become disabled, as processing an application can take three to five months.Image source: Author.
How to apply
The easiest way to apply for disability benefits is online, which you can do at www.socialsecurity.gov . You'll fill out the disability benefit application, and will answer some questions about the nature of your disability. If you want to get an idea of what to expect, the SSA publishes a Disability Starter Kit designed to get you ready for the application process.
Afterwards, you'll need to mail certain documentation to the Social Security Administration, or bring them in person to your local Social Security office.
Once you've filled out the application, you'll be told specifically which documentation you need. However, to expedite the process, it's probably a good idea to get some things together. Just to name a few, you should have these things handy:
- Your Social Security number
- Your birth certificate
- Details of your military service, if any
- Your most recent W-2, or your 1040 and Schedules C and SE if self-employed
- Information about any worker's compensation claim you have filed
- Contact information for someone who knows about your condition and can help with your disability claim
- Contact information for medical personnel who have treated you
- Information about any medical tests you've had
- Names of the medications you're taking and their prescribing physician
- Information about the jobs and dates you worked each for the past 15 years
- Any other documentation of your illness, injuries, or other conditions
- Your bank information, for direct deposit purposes
Note that this is not necessarily an exhaustive list. The SSA might ask you for other documentation during the application process. After submitting your application, you'll also be asked to sign a medical release form that allows the SSA to get information from your doctors.
Finally, if you don't want to apply online, you have two other options. You can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment to apply over the phone or in person at a Social Security office. The SSA says that the disability claims interview lasts about one hour, so plan accordingly.
Social Security Disability Insurance can replace some much-needed income in the unfortunate event that you become disabled. The application process can take a while, so if you become disabled, it's important to get the ball rolling right away and be proactive about gathering your documentation in order to move the process along as quickly as possible.
The $15,978 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. In fact, one MarketWatch reporter argues that if more Americans knew about this, the government would have to shell out an extra $10 billion annually. For example: one easy, 17-minute trick could pay you as much as $15,978 more... each year! Once you learn how to take advantage of all these loopholes, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how you can take advantage of these strategies.
The article How to Apply for Social Security Disability originally appeared on Fool.com.
Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days . We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
Copyright © 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
