Many claimants for Social Security Disability benefits begin the application process with high expectations that a speedy government approval is imminent.
Their hopes are many times dashed. Although things often work out in a positive way, the road toward ultimate approval is frequently marked by bumps and unexpected detours.
For one thing, government processes often work at seemingly glacial speeds. And another relevant point concerning disability claims is that many – indeed, the clear majority – of claimants suffer denials of their initial applications. Moreover, disapproval often continues at subsequent stages of the process.
SSDI claimants need to persevere, not surrender
You are hardly a rare exception if you suffer defeat on your earlier attempts to secure benefits. Rather, you are a member of a large crowd, with many members of that group ultimately achieving success through perseverance and with timely help from a proven disability law attorney.
What often occurs during the SSDI claims process is a steady – and, candidly, time-consuming – process progression for an initially denied applicant. The claim appeals process typically moves like this:
- Reconsideration (can take several months and, again, often yields further denial)
- Requested hearing before an administrative law judge (again, considerable time customarily elapses between a filed request and hearing outcome)
- Appeal of ALJ denial before the SSDI Appeals Council (often disapproved yet again)
- Appellate review by a United States federal court
A bottom-line takeaway for many SSDI claimants is this: Don’t get discouraged, and continue to be timely and proactive in engaging subsequent steps of the process.
An experienced SSDI legal team can fully explain the process and ably represent a client every step of the way. Persistence often pays off with ultimate success and the receipt of disability benefits.
