subject: It Doesn't Have To Be Impossible To Get Disability Benefits [print this page] As everyone knows who has ever tried to do so, obtaining any sort of benefits from the government can be anywhere from tremendously difficult to virtually impossible.
That is why, when you have become ill, been in an accident, or have otherwise been put in a position where you need some sort of financial support, you need to know how to approach the situation in order to get the best result.
First of all, if you are sick or injured, you need to assess how it will affect your ability to work. Be sure to accumulate documentation as you go along from physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, and so on.
If you plan to file for disability--even if it is only for temporary benefits (available in five states in the Union)--you need to make sure you are receiving ongoing treatment for whatever condition that preventing you from working. This is necessary in order to meet any of the minimum requirements for Social Security benefits.
New Jersey, California, Hawai'i, Rhode Island, and New York are the states that all offer the potential for temporary benefits, so, for example, working with a disability lawyer in New Jersey can help you win the supplemental assistance you need while recovering from surgery or an injury you are expected to bounce back from.
This can also apply to women that are enduring a rough pregnancy. If you have been ordered to bed rest by your obstetrician, then under the laws of these five states, you may file for temporary disability so long as you can prove that the condition of your pregnancy prevents you from working.
Keep medical bills and prescription information, and don't forget to make notations whenever you have any kind of appointment. All of these things will be necessary if and when you get into a legal battle for any kind of compensation. A good disability lawyer will be able to help you collect all of this necessary paperwork and keep track of it in order to outline your case.
Because Social Security proscribes such strict guidelines for disability benefits, it is wise to consider finding an attorney sooner rather than later. After all, the last thing you want to do is try to appeal and go through the process all over again, losing money in the meantime.
However, some lawyers will not take your case until you have been denied once, so you should do plenty of research before settling on a single attorney to help you.
Even with an effective lawyer, it may be some time before you are granted the benefits you deserve. Hang in there and be persistent. With a good lawyer, it doesn't have to be "virtually impossible," to get what you need.
