How hard is it to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits? For one Georgia man, it was easier to win a World Series ring.
Recently, MyFoxAtlanta.com had a sad story about Brian Doyle, who won the World Series in 1978 as part of the New York Yankees. Doyle, a second baseman who hit .438 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series that year, only played three more years in Major League Baseball before retiring and living modestly as a coach.
Sadly, in the 1990s, Doyle was diagnosed with leukemia and he began to have problems with his bones deteriorating. Due to his deteriorating condition, he was also forced to undergo two neck fusions, and he now suffers from debilitating pain.
With this in mind, in 2013, Doyle applied for SSDI. However, he was turned down for benefits twice. Then Doyle received another life-altering health diagnosis: Parkinson’s disease. “Most people don’t think that they’re going to be here. But here we are,” said Doyle’s wife Connie, according to MyFoxAtlanta about the family’s situation. “Stress just makes the whole thing worse.”
Since his newest diagnosis, Doyle has been in a waiting period with the Social Security Administration (SSA) over benefits. He will appeal his case to an administrative law judge later this year. “If it wasn’t for family, and friends, we wouldn’t be making it,” Doyle said, according to the news outlet.
I Need Help Collecting Social Security Disability Benefits
As this case shows, waiting periods for SSDI applicants can be long. Remember, how long you may have to wait for benefits may vary depending on a number of factors including the stage you are at in the process, which state you live in, how quickly you can produce medical records and whether or not your case is expedited due to the type of disability you may have.
This is why it may be important for you to obtain legal representation if you are applying for or appealing a decision. Often, working with an attorney can help improve your chances to receive approval. This is because an attorney can review your case and determine if there are any courses of action that could be taken to speed up your claim. Remember, errors on paperwork result in delays—an attorney could help you avoid this.
For more information about applying for SSDI benefits, you can visit our Social Security FAQ page.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability lawyers
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