Perseverance is a virtue that parents work hard to teach their children.
After all, having a mindset of not giving up after an initial defeat in pursuit of a worthy goal is an important like skill.
And it is certainly important to have this mindset in the application process for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits. It is important because about 70 percent of the claims for SSDI benefits are initially denied.
As we will discuss in this post, an initial denial does not mean your claim is over. Many claims are eventually approved on appeal. But it does mean you have some work to do in pursuing an appeal.
Financially, this can of course be very challenging. It could scarcely be otherwise, given that the very reason you are pursuing an SSDI claim is because you have a disabling condition that significantly impacts your ability to work.
Moreover, lack of income from work is only one of the financial challenges that people pursuing disability benefits often face. For many people, another pressing concern is the high cost of the medication needed as part of the treatment for their illness or injury.
Indeed, the cost of health care itself may be a concern in some cases. To be sure, the Affordable Act is supposed to make health insurance more widely available. But many people still lack insurance. Others have insurance, but still struggle with high deductibles and medical bills.
Keep in mind, in these circumstances, that applying for Medicaid may be a viable option for people with disabilities.
In terms of meeting daily needs for food and shelter, there may be other resources available as well, either through government services or charitable organizations.
In short, perseverance is needed to pursue an SSDI appeal. And part of that perseverance is crafting a strategy to make ends meet financially while you do so.
Source: WTXL, “Light At The End Of The Tunnel: Surviving The SSD Claims Process,” Kristen Brauchle, Dec. 20, 2013
Tags: benefits, Social Security Disability, SSDI
