Filing a claim for Social Security disability benefits is not as cut and dry as many people believe. Even the smallest of mistakes can wind up leading to denial of the claim by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It’s important to do everything possible to ensure that your claim will be approved. If a claim is denied, you are allowed to appeal the denial, but of course it’s much better for you to have the claim approved after it is initially submitted. Today, we will take a look at three important suggestions to increase your chances of winning a claim for Social Security disability benefits.

Keep Complete Medical Documentation

The most experienced disability benefits attorneys will tell you that most claims are denied on the first attempt because of insufficient medical evidence. You will need as much supporting documentation of your medical condition as possible in order to have a claim approved by the SSA. In order to ensure that this happens, you should wait to file a claim until you have all the medical documentation needed for the SSA to approve your claim.

Collecting medical documentation doesn’t end with the filing of your claim. If the claim has been filed and you continue to receive medical care, make sure you send copies of those documents to the SSA to get your claim approved. This is especially important if test results arrived after the date you filed the claim. Send all of this in as soon as possible so it can be added to your file.

A medical journal is another good idea when filing a claim for disability benefits. The journal should be a record of all medical professionals you’ve seen since the issue arose. Even if you think the visit to one particular doctor was not related to your case you should still include their information in the journal. The more documentation you have regarding your medical condition, the better your chances of winning a claim. So, be sure to keep detailed records and hang on to all of your medical information.

Stay Updated on Your Claim

Make it your job to stay on top of your disability benefits claim. Millions of claims are filed every year with the SSA, which means that you might not hear from anyone within the agency about your claim for several months unless you make contact with them. If you need to ask questions related to your claim, don’t be afraid to reach out to a representative in the appropriate department. Keep an additional journal that includes each time you contacted or were contacted by the SSA about your claim. The journal should have the name and contact information of every person you spoke to along with the date the conversation occurred and the reason for contact.

Stick with All Recommendations from Your Doctor

Make sure you do everything possible to stick with all the recommendations made by your doctor when it comes to your care and treatment. Ignoring these recommendations from a medical professional you are seeing for your condition could lead to your claim being denied by the SSA. You don’t want to give the SSA any reason to deny your claim, especially if it is over something as simple as following doctor’s orders. We understand that although it might be simple to follow the recommendations of your doctor, it is not always easy. This is especially true if you need to make lifestyle changes. That said, following the orders of your doctor could mean the difference between claim denial and approval, it this makes it worth the effort.

Talk with a Seasoned Disability Benefits Attorney Today

If your Social Security disability benefits claim was denied, it is important that you speak with a seasoned attorney who knows the SSDI claims process in Alabama. Don’t let the SSA deny the benefits you rightfully deserve. Call the office of Walton Law, LLC at 251-455-5819 to schedule a consultation to discuss your case. The longer you wait to appeal the SSA’s decision, the less likely it is that your appeal will be successful. It is also important to utilize the experience and assistance of an attorney when filing your initial claim in an effort to avoid it being denied in the first place.