For many people, the prospect of applying for Social Security Disability can be a daunting process, and whether you filed with an attorney or on your own, your odds of being approved for benefits on your initial application can be challenging. With a less than 40% initial approval rate, many claims need to go through many series of appeals in order for benefits to be granted.
There are some common reasons why benefits may be denied. Some of these factors are technical and others are more subjective, and you might be able to work on them to improve your odds of getting approved for benefits or for winning an appeal.
Common reasons for your application being denied
There are many factors that can determine why your SSD application may have been denied, and every situation will be unique. However, below are some of the more common bases for denial.
A lack of medical evidence supporting limitations
The most common reason why your SSD application may be denied will be a lack of medical evidence to support a finding of disability. In many cases, you might not have the treatment record to support a finding of disability because you have been solely treated by your primary care physician, or your medical history does not contain enough records of severe medical limitations.
Lack of specialist treatment
Another reason why your application may be denied is due to a lack of specialist treatment. Certain conditions can automatically qualify you for benefits if you meet the technical requirements. However, these must be properly diagnosed and treated, normally by specialists who focus on those conditions. Without that record of treatment, you can be denied even if your condition should qualify you for benefits.
Failure to follow treatment recommendations
If your doctor prescribes you a medication or a treatment and you do not follow their advice, this can be used as a ground for denying you benefits for failure to try and get the treatment your doctor recommended. If the reviewer for your application deems that you have not attempted all viable treatment without clear documentation for why you refused a treatment, that can result in a denial.
Filing errors
The Social Security Administration has strict filing deadlines and requirements that you must follow with your application, and if you are filing on your own it can be easy to make a mistake with your paperwork. This can cause a denial of your application without the SSA even considering the merits of your application.
How to avoid these situations
The easiest way to avoid these common scenarios in which your application could be denied would be to hire an SSD attorney to help you prepare your application. They can keep your case on track and help you avoid these pitfalls.
If you wish to proceed by yourself, then speaking to your doctor and ensuring that your medical conditions are properly documented is another prudent action you can take.
If your doctor prescribes a treatment or therapy for you to attempt, be sure that you are following their instructions so that you won’t be denied on that basis.
You can also ask your doctor if you need specialist treatment for your condition, and if you receive that treatment that can support your application further.