How Can You Speed Up an SSDI Application?
Across America right now, hundreds of thousands of people are waiting to hear back from the SSA about their disability applications. If you need disability and you’ve heard about these awful waits, you may be wondering, “What can I do to speed up my SSDI application?”
Fortunately, you do have some options that can help ease the process and give you a better chance for success.
The Problem with SSDI Application Wait Times
For the last few years, SSDI wait times have skyrocketed. Initial SSDI applications are now at over 1 million backlogged. The problem has plagued so many people that we recently wrote an article about what has caused these delays.
The problems vary, but they include under-funding and understaffing, an increase in applications, and the impacts of COVID-19. All of these issues mixed together lead to problems with the system.
What Could Fix It
The House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee has made 3 recommendations that could help.
First, they recommend we eliminate the reconsideration process. Basically, if you don’t get approved on your first try, you have the option to ask a judge to reconsider. This is different from an appeal, where you present further evidence that could potentially help your claim (and with an appeal, you typically work with an attorney).
Requests for reconsideration rarely overturn the decision, because they’re looking at the same info as the SSA – you haven’t made changes yet to fix the underlying problem that got you denied in the first place.
Next they recommend an increase in funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA). They recommended this funding go toward personnel who could help process the rising claims. The SSA lost a lot of employees during the worst of COVID-19. So they need to fill those positions and more to make up for more claims than normal.
Lastly, they recommended making sure the SSA is using their current money wisely. The subcommittee found a lot of areas where the money went to outreach that wasn’t necessary or to develop resources they never used. That’s money that could go toward hiring people who would help process claims faster.
Speed Up Your SSDI Application and Get Out of Debt
One of the best ways to make sure your claim goes as quickly and smoothly as possible is to get it right on your first try. Our SSDI lawyers can help by looking at your initial application and letting you know if there’s a reason you might not qualify.
However, the SSA denies the majority of first-time applications. Sometimes this is because of simple errors in the paperwork, and sometimes it’s because you need more information in the application than you included on the first try.
If that happens, you have 60 days after you get denied to appeal. Our attorneys can help you strengthen your claim, represent you in front of the judge, and get the benefits you need. We only get paid if you win, and even then it’s only a small percentage of your past-due benefits.
In addition, these long waits can put people under intense financial pressure. Fortunately, we work with people to get out of debt every single day. At our firm, we have attorneys with vast experience in SSDI working alongside attorneys with vast experience in debt relief.
So if you’re feeling crushed under the burden of these long wait times, we may be able to help with that as well.
It all starts with a free appointment where we can discuss your situation and help you make a plan. Don’t forget you only have 60 days to appeal. To get started, just give us a call at 901-327-2100 or contact us online.