My Colorado clients sometimes tell me that they waited years to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. When I ask them why, I get a number of reasons:
- I did not want to appear needy.
- I did not want to believe I was disabled.
- I did not want to look like I was trying to scam the system.
Some people do not want to take a handout; even if this means not drawing on a benefit program they have paid into. Others do not want to label themselves as disabled because they view it as a sign that they will not get better. Some of my clients want to keep trying to work. They want to test themselves, and they feel that applying for benefits will make them look like they are giving up and Social Security will look down on them.
I respect the pride, individualism, and self reliance that this demonstrates.
Unfortunately, waiting too long to apply for Social Security benefits can severely reduce their chances of winning.
Most Social Security disability cases are won or lost on the medical evidence available. Having high quality medical treatment, especially treatment with specialists, can make all the difference in a case. Social Security primarily focuses on current, regular, and on-going medical treatment and evaluations. This shows the existence and severity of an individual’s impairments.
If you wait until after you you lose your insurance to apply, you may no longer be able to see a doctor, let alone a specialist on a regular basis. Your prior records have become historical records rather than reflecting your current status.
Historical medical records may be important. However, while past medical records may show that an individual was disabled in the past, they often cannot show Social Security whether someone is disabled today.
Also, an individual will often need a medical opinion of what they can and cannot do in the workplace (a statement of limitations) to show that they are disabled.
Sometime, this can be obtained from a prior doctor, but that can cause its own set of problems. Generally, an individual will need to obtain a statement of limitations from a current medical provider.
I have seen a number of cases where a person had a team of doctors working with them at one point. But, by they time they applied for Social Security, they are only seeing a general practitioner or nurse for a few minutes at the public community health center.
Do not wait until your medical coverage runs out before applying for Social Security.
If you find yourself in the situation of applying after you lose your insurance, don’t despair. You still may be able to win your case. For a number of my clients, the only treatment option is the local health center or charity clinic. But, I still believe in them, and in their chances of winning.
