Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a complicated and time-consuming process, even if you meet all the criteria to qualify for benefits and have plenty of documentary evidence to prove it. Even one small error or omission could lead to your initial application for benefits being rejected—something that happens to a significant majority of SSDI applications nationwide.
That said, having your initial petition denied is not necessarily the end of the road, as you may have various options for correcting the problems with your application, which our seasoned Las Vegas social security disability lawyers at Shook & Stone could help you take advantage of. On top of that, a dedicated Las Vegas SSDI denial lawyer could also provide crucial guidance and support throughout the process of formally appealing a claim denial if that is the right course of action for your circumstances.
Why Are SSDI Claims Commonly Denied?
The specific reasons why the Social Security Administration (SSA) may decide to deny a claim for SSDI benefits are as varied as the people who apply for them. Still, in general, there are two main categories that rejections fall into: those based on procedural errors and those based on lack of eligibility. The former type of denial can stem from something as small as a mistyped address or phone number that prevents the SSA from contacting the applicant, to something as large as missing medical records or an incomplete form.
The latter type of denial typically stems from the SSA believing either that the applicant is not “disabled” enough—based on the SSA’s definition of the term, which can differ somewhat from the definitions medical professionals and regular people might have—or has not obtained enough work credits to qualify for benefits. As a well-practiced Las Vegas SSDI denial attorney at our firm could further explain, some rejections along these lines are a bit thornier to deal with—for example, the SSA may deny benefits if they believe an applicant’s own drug or alcohol abuse was the primary cause of their disability.
Options for Resolving an SSDI Denial in Las Vegas
If an SSDI claim denial stems from a procedural error, overcoming that denial can sometimes be accomplished simply by correcting the mistake(s) in the original application or including additional medical or identifying information in a resubmitted packet. However, suppose the SSA disagrees with an applicant about whether they are eligible for SSDI benefits in the first place. In that case, the applicant’s best option is usually to pursue a formal appeal.
There are multiple stages to the appeals process for SSDI claims, each of which has very specific procedural requirements and involves going before different representatives of the SSA and—if the appeal progresses far enough—officials in the federal court system. There are also extremely strict deadlines for taking action at each stage after receiving an unsatisfactory judgment, so anyone who wants to explore their options should contact an experienced SSDI denial lawyer in Las Vegas sooner rather than later.
Get in Touch With a Las Vegas SSDI Denial Attorney Today
Having your SSDI application denied for any reason can be devastating to your long-term financial security, especially if you are unfamiliar with how to proactively contest that denial. Fortunately, assistance is available from committed legal professionals with a track record of achieving positive case results on behalf of people just like you.
Your odds of achieving a favorable outcome after an SSDI claim rejection will improve dramatically if you retain a Las Vegas SSDI denial lawyer. Call Shook & Stone today to learn more.
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