Reasons for SSDI Denials: Your Health & Work Status
Our Oklahoma disability lawyers have been doing this for decades. We’ve seen just about every reason a Social Security Disability application might be denied.
One major way a denial happens is that your health and employment status don’t appear to meet the qualifications for benefits. For instance:
- You earn too much by working. Social Security has a standard called “substantial gainful activity (SGA).” If you work enough that your income surpasses SGA, they will deny your SSDI claim.
- Your health impairments aren’t severe. Using medical evidence, you must show that your health problems are seriously limiting.
- Your medical condition won’t last at least 12 months. If you could recover from your injury or illness and return to work in a year or less, you won’t qualify for benefits.
- Alcohol or drug abuse. For people with alcoholism or drug addiction, Social Security may assume their medical conditions would simply improve if they stopped using—so no need for benefits. You’ll have to take extra steps to show you would still have the same health limitations without the substance use.
Instead of wondering what went wrong with your disability application and what to do next, get the highly experienced disability attorneys at Troutman & Troutman to do a disability evaluation of your case—FOR FREE.
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Reasons for SSDI Denials: Flaws in Your Application
Another big wrench in your disability claim occurs when your health and work situations may qualify, but the information you send Social Security has defects, such as:
- Your application forms were incomplete. You must answer all the questions from Social Security completely and correctly.
- You didn’t submit enough medical evidence. Social Security needs to see detailed records from your medical care.
- You didn’t follow your doctor’s recommendations. Abiding by your doctor’s orders shows you take your health seriously, you’re putting in effort to manage it, and you would work if only you could. If you ignore treatment recommendations, Social Security may doubt that your condition troubles you enough to warrant benefits.
- Social Security thinks you’re lying. You’ll be denied benefits if Social Security thinks you aren’t qualified but you’re trying to cheat the system to get money. You could be criminally prosecuted for fraud. So in all the materials you send Social Security, tell the truth.
Sometimes the problem is the way you explain your situation.
Don’t gloss over details about how your health problems restrict your daily life just to sound more positive, for example. Don’t go to a checkup and tell your doctor you feel OK just to be polite.
But don’t exaggerate your struggles, either.
Social Security Disability lawyers who’ve been through this process thousands of times know how to strike the right balance for your disability appeal. And you don’t pay a fee for an attorney unless you win.
Let us handle the tricky parts of the disability determination process, so you can get financial relief and move on.
Contact Us Today! »Wherever You Are in the Disability Benefits Process, We Can Help
You may be trying to determine if Social Security Disability benefits are right for you. You may be facing a long, complicated benefits application. Or maybe you’ve applied and been denied. Now what? The Troutman & Troutman Oklahoma disability attorneys can help.
Disability Attorneys Answer Your Questions about Social Security
Your life has been disrupted by health problems. You’ve had to leave work. You’re worried about money. Social Security Disability benefits can provide relief, but they’re complicated. You’ve got a lot of questions. The Troutman & Troutman Tulsa disability lawyers have answers.
SSD Questions & Answers »
