Social Security disability benefits help people unable to work cover daily expenses, medical care, and other essentials. Applying for benefits requires many steps, and it is important for applicants to be fully prepared for the process. This disability checklist details the information you will need to make an application for benefits.
Information on your job history & employer
You must earn enough work credits to be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. This can be verified by providing information on your job history for a 15-year period preceding the date of your disability. You will also be asked for information regarding your most recent employer, as well as any employers you had during the previous two years before the injury or illness occurred.
Personal information
Your name, contact information, and birth country must also be provided. You may also provide information for an alternate contact person. The Social Security office will request direct deposit information, including account and routing number for your bank account. Job training and educational information are also requested.
Proof of marital status
If you are married at the time of filing, you should include the name of your spouse. If you were previously married for more than ten years and divorced, also include that person’s name, as well as the names of any deceased spouses. You will also need the beginning and end dates for all marriages that fell into the above categories.
Healthcare & treatment information
The more healthcare information you can present to back up your disability, the better. Contact information for doctors and clinics allows the Social Security Administration to discuss your disability directly. If you have undergone testing, also include the dates and types of tests you have undergone, including information on the results. A listing of current treatments, such as prescription medications you are taking, can also be presented.
