Claiming for a social security disability entails a tedious process that requires conciseness in filling out forms. Keep in mind that the decision of the Social Security Administration (SSA) on whether or not to grant you the benefit will depend solely on the documentation that you provide. One small mistake may cost you your benefits.

Here are some of the more common mistakes that people commit when filing for their social security disability claim.

Filing Prematurely

The early bird gets the worm, so goes the saying. In the context of getting your SSDI, however, this age-old nugget of wisdom does not apply. Submitting early does not necessarily mean it’s a good thing. See, filing for the claim already requires a lot of time and certain costs. These are resources you would not want to arbitrarily use, and that’s why you must first be absolutely certain that your condition does qualify for a claim.

At the very least, your illness or disability should keep you from working—and thereby keep you from earning regular income—for at least 12 months. Not only that, but even if you are soon able to get back to work, you must be able to show that you no longer have the same capability to carry out your former tasks on account of your disability.

Notifying Too Late

On the other end of the spectrum, you wouldn’t want to file too late with the SSA. Ideally, you should notify the SSA once it appears that your condition will disable you for twelve months. The rationale behind encouraging early notification—not filing, take note—is that it sets the protective filing date immediately. This date will then be used as the mark for determining your back pay should your claim is eventually approved.

Incomplete Requirements

Your consultative exam makes up only a part of your claim so don’t rest all your eggs in just this lone basket. Having documentation for this does not guarantee approval of your claim. There must be enough supporting evidence showing your disability, vis-à-vis the kinds of activities you are now limited from doing because of your condition.

Aside from your exam results, therefore, there must be other medical documentation, such as prescriptions for medication, therapy diagnosis or schedule, and others that will corroborate the findings of your exam. 

Sources
Five Traps that May Disable Your SSDI Claim, Disability Secrets
Common Social Security Disability Mistakes, Disability Benefits Center