You may find yourself panicking because you have just been diagnosed with a crippling disability, but despite filling out the application and following the instructions for acquiring disability insurance, you were denied disability benefits. Be reassured that you are not alone and that many fixable factors may have led to denied benefits. Understanding the common reasons disability benefits are denied may be able to help you file a strong appeal in your favor. A Philadelphia disability lawyer can help you with this process to increase your chances of receiving an acceptance letter.

Main Reasons Disability Benefits Are Denied

Very little or no medical evidence is one of the most common reasons for denied disability benefits. The Social Security Administration has strict standards for what qualifies you for their programs. This is done to ensure fairness and credibility are upheld when disability benefits are offered. To avoid a denial letter, be sure to collect notes from your doctor that explains how your disability impairs your ability to work and for how long. 

Not adhering to medical treatments for your disability can also be used against you. The SSA does this because there is no objective way to know whether your condition will prevent you from working if you have not tried any treatments to improve your condition. They do not know whether a certain treatment could allow you to work unless that treatment has been implemented and documented by your doctor. Be sure to collect doctor’s notes on this too. Evidence of failed treatments will work in your favor.

Multiple denials of your disability application can hurt you. The person reviewing your application will have access to your past attempts to apply for benefits and may deny your application on this basis alone. This is why going through the appeals process instead of re-submitting new applications can increase your chances of being accepted. 

Filing an Appeal

The appeals process for disability insurance can involve multiple steps depending on whether your initial appeal is accepted. These steps involve reconsideration, a hearing with an administrative law judge, a request for a review by an appeals council, and a review by a federal court. Working with a lawyer during this process may be able to save you significant time and money. 

In most cases, these requests can be done online. You can file a reconsideration appeal for medical or non-medical reasons. Maybe your condition has worsened since you first filed your application, or you were able to obtain more medical evidence to support your case. Depending on the results, you may or may not have to move up in the appeals process. 

Disability Lawyer in Philadelphia

The process for filing a disability benefits application and collecting evidence for your disability can be tedious. Try talking with an experienced Philadelphia denied benefits appeal lawyer if you were denied disability benefits. Contact Edelstein & Nelson at 1-800-300-0909 for a consultation today. Our team of lawyers will work with you to collect the evidence and defense you need to obtain disability insurance.