You can check the status of your Social Security disability claim online.
What your application status shows when you check your status online, you can find:
Your re-entry number for your online application or appeal that hasn’t been submitted
The date Social Security received your application or appeal
Your scheduled hearing date and time
The location of your application or appeal including the address of the office processing your application
If a decision has been made
How to check your disability application status online
You must sign into your “my Social Security” account. You can’t check the status of your claim online if you don’t have a “my Social Security” account. First, scroll down to the “Your Benefit Application” section. Next, select “View Details” to check your application status.
How to create a “my Social Security” account
Social Security asks you for specific information to create an online account. However, you can only create an account for yourself. You can’t create an account for another person. You will need the following in order to view your Social Security disability online status:
Firstly, A valid email address
Secondly, Your social security number
Thirdly, A U.S. mailing address
You must be at least 18 years old
Other ways to check your application status
If you can’t get online to check the status of your application, you can also:
Call your local Social Security office or Social Security’s national telephone number or disability lawyer
Call the claims adjudicator assigned to your case
Why should I check my disability status online?
You should check the status so you can:
Make sure Social Security has all of the paperwork to process your application or receives your medical records.
Avoid missing any deadlines to appeal your claim if you are denied
Filing for Social Security Disability Online Status
There are many steps Social Security takes before making a decision on your claim. Generally, it takes Social Security time to process your disability application. There are also different departments that handle your claim. Additionally, the application process requires a lot of paperwork. Overall, the disability process can be overwhelming and frustrating when you don’t know how it works.
You send your disability application to your local Social Security office.
The local office processes your application.
Social Security sends your claim to Disability Determination Services or DDS. Shortly after you have been assigned a claim adjudicator, he or she will contact you and provide paperwork regarding your claim.
Disability Status Online: Reconsideration
If Social Security denies your initial application, you file an appeal for reconsideration.
Disability Status Online: Requesting a Hearing
If Social Security denies your reconsideration appeal, you then request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. Social Security sends your case to the hearing office, called the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO). OHO assigns an administrative law judge (ALJ) to your case. You will receive a letter telling you of the date, time and location of your hearing. It may take several months for OHO to schedule your hearing.
Benefits of Working with a Disability Advocate
Most importantly, an experienced disability advocate knows the process. They will guide and appeals process and explain the disability rules. They can help you get the right evidence to support your claim. Additionally, your disability advocate checks the status of your case regularly. They will make sure that there isn’t any missing information.
Example 1: help with Social Security’s forms
As an example, Social Security sends you several forms to complete. Specifically, they will send you forms about your daily activities. They also need more information about the type of work you’ve done in the past. Unfortunately, Social Security can deny your claim if they don’t get these forms from you. These forms can seem overwhelming. However, your disability advocate can help you complete these forms. They will also make sure that Social Security receives your completed forms.
Example 2: following up with Social Security
Many times, Social Security sends you letters that tell you what information is missing from your claim. These letters will tell you that some of your doctors haven’t sent in records. Your disability advocate can check on the status of your claim with Social Security. Often, they will get more accurate information than the letters or an online status check will provide. Then, your disability advocate works with you to make sure Social Security gets all of your medical records.
Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Make sure you start your claim the right way and apply for all the benefits you deserve. Contact us now for a free consultation.
Social Security over 50 Grid rules can help you win your disability case.
Social Security Disability Over 50 Grid Rules
Generally, Social Security defines disability as having the inability to work. They look at your ability to go back to your past work. They also look at your ability to do other types of work. However, Social Security recognizes that it may be harder for older individuals to do new work. Therefore, there are more favorable rules for older people. These rules are the “grid rules.”
The grid rules consider different factors. These factors include:
Your age
Education
Work background
Residual functional capacity (RFC) – what you can do despite your medical conditions
The Grid Rules and Your Past Work
Social Security will look at the grid rules once they have figured out your RFC. In order to apply the grid rules, Social Security must categorize your past work. The grid rules will only apply if Social Security finds that you can’t return to your past work. Social Security only considers past relevant work. Past relevant work is work done in the past 15 years. It should also have resulted in significant earnings. Temporary or part-time jobs might not count as past relevant work.
Social Security has different physical categories of work. These include:
Sedentary – mostly sitting jobs that don’t require lifting more than 10 pounds
Light – usually require more standing and don’t require lifting more than 20 pounds
Medium – requires lifting between 25-50 pounds
Heavy – requires lifting more than 50 pounds
The Grid Rules Past Skilled Work
Social Security will also look at the type of skills required to do your past work. Sometimes, there are skills from your past work that can be used to do different types of jobs. These are transferable skills. It is harder to apply a favorable grid rule when there are transferable skills. However, transferable skills won’t apply if you can only do simple, routine tasks. Generally, Social Security makes this finding when there is evidence of mental health impairment.
Applying the Over 50 Grid Rules
Case study 1: Social Security over 50 Grid rules
In one case, a 54 year old man applied for disability benefits after he had his knee replaced. Unfortunately, he continued to have pain and swelling in his knee. This made it impossible for him to go back to work. He previously worked as a security guard. Social Security determined that he had the ability to perform sedentary work. Social Security found that there were no transferable skills. Therefore, the grid rules directed a finding of disabled.
Case study 2: Social Security over 50 Grid rules
In another case, a 51 year old woman applied for disability based on coronary artery disease, depression and anxiety. She previously worked as an office manager and cashier. She suffered from frequent chest pain and leg swelling, also had trouble concentrating. Social Security determined that she could perform sedentary work. Her job as an office manager was categorized as sedentary. Yet, Social Security also found she could only do simple and routine tasks. Since her job required more complex tasks, she was not able to return to her past work. Therefore, the grid rules allowed Social Security to approve her case.
Hire a disability expert who knows the Social Security over 50 Grid Rules
Unfortunately, the grid rules don’t always work out in your favor. This is especially true if you are applying for disability benefits for non-physical conditions. Most commonly, these conditions include problems such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder alone.
For example, a 53 year old man applied for disability benefits when he could no longer work due to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He previously worked in a poultry factory. Social Security found that he could only perform simple and routine tasks. Without any physical restrictions, the Social Security over 50 Grid rules directed a finding of not disabled. Consequently, he was denied benefits.
Working with a SSDI Disability Lawyer
Even if the Social Security over 50 Grid rules don’t work in your favor, you can still win your case. In the above example, this gentleman can still win if he proves his conditions meet the medical listing requirements. He can also be approved if he shows he would miss work a lot.
Hire a Disability Expert
An experienced SSDI disability lawyer will help explain the Social Security over 50 Grid rules. They can tell if you these grid rules apply in your case. More importantly, disability lawyer can help you get the evidence you need to apply the grid rules and win your case.
Disability Help Group: Winning Grid Case Study
For instance, Jerry applied for benefits because he had knee pain and swelling. He also had diabetes and diabetic neuropathy. He was 52 years old and had worked in a warehouse for many years.
Unfortunately, Social Security denied Jerry’s claim. He couldn’t understand why. His doctors told him to apply. Finally, Mr. Doyle turned to Disability Help Group. Our advocate suggested that he get a prescription for the cane he had been using. She also noticed that his doctor didn’t write down that he needed to elevate his legs, even though the doctor told Jerry this several times. On our advocate’s advice, he spoke with his doctor. Then, the recommendation was included in his medical records. At hearing, the judge found that Jerry couldn’t do his warehouse job. The judge also found that he couldn’t stand or walk for more than two hours a day. Therefore, Jerry was limited to sedentary work. The Social Security over 50 Grid rules were applied and the judge approved his claim.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Make sure you start your claim the right way and apply for all the benefits you deserve. Contact us now for a free consultation.
How Can I Check on My Disability Claim? It takes Social Security time to process your disability application. There are several steps that Social Security takes before making a decision on your claim. Checking your Social Security application status is an easy way to stay on top of your Social Security application. You can make sure there is no missing information slowing down your application.
However, there are different guidelines for checking the status of a claim. There are also different departments that handle your claim. It can be confusing and frustrating if you’re not sure who to contact for the status of your claim.
Ways to Check the Status of Your Application
There are several ways to check the status of your Social Security disability claim. These include:
Online at the SSA website at www.ssa.gov . If you are checking the status of your application online, you will need to create a “my Social Security” account.
Contact your local Social Security office
Contact Social Security’s national telephone at 1-800-772-1213
Contacting you Social Security disability lawyer
Information Needed to Check Your Claim Status
In order to provide you information about your claim, Social Security will ask for specific information. You should have this information available before speaking with Social Security. This includes:
Your name
Social Security number
Address
Email
A phone number for Social Security to reach you
Checking on Initial Applications or Reconsideration Claims
First, you send your disability claim to your local Social Security office. Second, the local office processes your application. Third, your claim is sent to Disability Determination Services or DDS. DDS assigns a claims representative to your case. The person assigned to your case is the claims adjudicator.
Even if you need to check the status of your claim at the initial application or on reconsideration (the first appeal), it is best to speak directly with the claims adjudicator assigned to your case. DDS often will include your claims’ adjudicator’s name and phone number on letters and forms that they send you. Your claims adjudicator will give you the status of your claim and tell you what information they are waiting for. However, the claims adjudicator cannot tell you Social Security’s decision on your claim. You will receive a decision letter in the mail.
DDS will assign a different claims adjudicator at the reconsideration level.
Especially if you have not received any letters or forms, you can also call your local office for additional information. Social Security recommends that you wait at least thirty days before checking on the status of your claim.
DDS mails you letters that tell you what information is missing from your claim. This generally includes a list of your doctors that Social Security has contacted. The letters state that they will make a decision within 10 days if they do not receive the requested information. Do not panic if you receive these letters. At times, you may receive this notice very shortly after your claims adjudicator sends a request to your doctors, giving them very little time to respond. It is best to follow up with your claims adjudicator or your disability lawyer to receive an accurate update on the status of your claim.
Checking on Hearing Level Claims
You can appeal at reconsideration level and request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. Once a request has been filed, your claim is sent to the hearing office(OHO). Your claim will be assigned and scheduled for a hearing. It may take several months for OHO to schedule your hearing.
Speaking to the correct office
If your case is at the hearing level, it is best to contact the hearing office directly. The hearing offices are separate from Social Security. Therefore, your local office will not have much information about your claim at that point. At best, the local office will only confirm that your case is at the hearing office.
If You Have a SSDI disability lawyer
A disability lawyer will make these calls and check on the status of your claim for you. An experienced disability lawyer will perform regular status checks with Social Security. Since they are familiar with all aspects of the process, they will know who to call to get accurate information. A disability lawyer will also help you to complete all the paperwork. Overall, hiring an experienced disability lawyer can help to make the claims process easier.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Make sure you start your claim the right way and apply for all the benefits you deserve. If you have already applied for SSI or SSDI, call immediately to make sure your case is still pending and was filed correctly. You may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation.
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to be porous and fragile. This can cause the bones to break easily.
Osteoporosis happens when your bones become less able to make new bone as quickly as the old bone breaks down. Osteoporosis can be considered a disability if it prevents you from working.
Who Usually Develops Osteoporosis?
Anyone can develop osteoporosis. However, there are certain risk factors that can increase your likeliness to develop osteoporosis. These risk factors can include:
Sex – more women than men get osteoporosis
Age – you are at higher risk to develop osteoporosis the older you are
Diet – low calcium levels, anorexia and weight loss surgery can increase your risk
Lifestyle – you are at higher risk if you sit around a lot, drink a lot of alcohol or use tobacco
Medications
In early stages, osteoporosis often does not have any signs or symptoms. However, in more advanced stages, osteoporosis can cause:
Loss of height
Changes in posture
Back pain
Typically, osteoporosis alone will not qualify you for Social Security benefits. However, there are symptoms and related health problems that might affect your ability to work.
Evidence needed for your osteoporosis diagnosis
Medical evidence includes your doctor’s treatment notes, test results and imaging.
Difficulty or an inability to ambulate effectively, such as your ability to walk reasonable distances or to use stairs
The need for an assistive device such as a cane, walker, or crutches
Any pain with movement of your bones or joints
Problems using your hands
Difficulty traveling places without assistance
Difficulty performing activities of daily living such as shopping, cooking, cleaning, using public transportation, bathing or getting dressed
Specific tests related to osteoporosis include:
Bone mineral density test. This tests the strength of your bones. It can also be called a DXA scan.
Blood tests that include
Calcium levels,
Thyroid levels,
Vitamin D levels,
Alkaline Phosphatase,
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or
Parathyroid (PTH)
Treatment for Osteoporosis
Treatment for osteoporosis can include medications and lifestyle changes.It is important that your doctor document side effects from medications response to medication surgeries or procedures related to fractures related medical complications
Listings of Medical Impairments
This is also known as the “Blue Book.” Osteoporosis is not one of the medical impairments included in the Blue Book. However, you might match a listing under another section.
Since osteoporosis can cause your bones to break easily, Listings 1.06 and 1.07 might apply. These listings provide specific criteria for fractures or broken bones in the upper and lower body.
osteoporosis due to other conditions such as cancer, thyroid disorders
If you have one of these conditions, you might match the listings under 9.00 for endocrine disorders.These include:
Pituitary gland disorders
Thyroid gland disorders
Parathyroid gland disorders
Adrenal gland disorders
Diabetes and other pancreatic gland disorders, including
Hyperglycemia (high levels of glucose),
Hypoglycemia (low levels of glucose) and
Diabetic ketoacidosis
What if your osteoporosis does not meet the Blue Book listings?
You can still qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you do not meet the Blue Book listings. However, you must show that your osteoporosis keeps you from working.
Social Security will need to assess your residual functional capacity (RFC.) Your RFC is what you can do despite your medical conditions. Your doctor can help clarify your RFC by providing certain information about your osteoporosis.
For example, you may need to use extreme caution performing certain activities due to a higher risk of breaking your bones, such as bending or lifting. You may have problems standing, walking or sitting for long periods of time due to joint pain, especially in your back, hips, knees or ankles.
You may also have difficulty reaching, grasping or holding items because of joint pain in your hands or arms.
Your doctor can help explain these limitations in an RFC form. Your doctor should be specific with any limitations related to these activities. They should include:
How long you can sit, stand or walk at one time or in an eight hour day
Maximum weight you can lift or carry
How frequently you can use your arms and hands
Your pain levels
Side effects from medications
You want to provide as much documentation and records as possible related to your osteoporosis. You should see your doctor consistently and continue to have regular testing for your osteoporosis.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Make sure you start your claim the right way and apply for all the benefits you deserve. If you have already applied for SSI or SSDI, call immediately to make sure your case is still pending and was filed correctly. You may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation.
What is considered a disability? Social Security Administration (SSA) defines disability as an individual:
having a medical impairment or combination of impairments;
the impairment prevents the person from working; and
they cannot work for at least twelve months.
Social Security provides a “Listing of Medical Impairments”. This is also known as the “Blue Book”. These impairments will automatically qualify you for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
However, you must meet certain conditions. You can be found disabled if these specific conditions are met. You may still qualify for disability benefits under other guidelines if your medical condition is not on the list.
Listing of Medical Impairments for SSDI include:
The Listing of Impairments is generally broken down by body system or function. They are the most severe level of disabilities. There are separate disability listings for adults and children under the age of 18. For adults, the medical conditions that qualify for Social Security Disability:
Musculoskeletal system, such as back conditions or dysfunction of the joints and bones;
Special Senses and Speech, such as vision and hearing loss;
Respiratory Disorders, such as breathing disorders like asthma, cystic fibrosis or lung transplant;
Cardiovascular System, such as chronic heart failure, chronic venous insufficiency or peripheral arterial disease;
Digestive System, such as chronic liver disease or inflammatory bowel disease;
Genitourinary Disorders, such as chronic kidney disease; or
Hematological Disorders, such as blood disorders.
Additional examples are:
Skin Disorders, such as chronic skin infections, dermatitis or burns
Endocrine Disorders, such as diabetes, thyroid gland disorders or pituitary gland disorders
Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems, such as Down syndrome
Neurological Disorders, such as epilepsy, Parkinsonian syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, cerebral palsy or peripheral neuropathy
Mental Disorders, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or schizophrenia
Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)
Immune System Disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, inflammatory arthritis or HIV/AIDS
The Listings of Impairments for children are almost identical to the adult disability listings. However, the Childhood Listings also include growth impairments.
Does Your Condition Meet a Listing?
First, your doctor must diagnosis you with a disability under the Listings. There are some conditions that will qualify you for disability with a diagnosis alone. Some examples include:
ALS;
An organ transplant; or
Certain cancers such as esophageal cancer, mucosal melanoma, anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland or small-cell carcinoma (prostate, ovaries, breast, lungs, pleura, intestines or bladder)
Generally, just a diagnosis of a disability is not enough. The Listings of Impairments set out the requirements for how severe the symptoms are affecting you. SSA will review clinical findings and laboratory tests to determine if your disability meets the listing. If you have not had the clinical or laboratory tests required in the listing, you can ask your doctor to perform them.
Medical Equivalence
Your disability may also medically equal the Listings.
Medical equivalence is found if:
Your medical impairment is at least equal in severity and duration; and
Does not quite match the requirements under the listing.
The SSA also recognizes that there are many ways to diagnose and document the same illness. Your disability may “equal’ a listing if it does not quite meet all of the requirements under the listing. For example, the listing may require a specific result on a specific lab test. However, you were given a different test that showed the same results. SSA may find that your disability equals the listing.
You can also equal a listing if you have multiple disabilities but none of them meet the listings individually. SSA will look at listings that are close to your disabilities. If the combination of your impairments adds up to an impairment that is just as severe as the listing, your disabilities would equal the listings.
What if your medical condition is not under the Listings?
You can still be found disabled if your disability does not meet or equal the listings. However, you must show that your medical condition keeps you from working.
Some examples of other disabilities include:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Celiac Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease
Your disability must be supported by medical evidence. Medical evidence may include:
Physical examinations
Treatment notes
MRIs
CAT scans
X-rays
Blood work results
Biopsy results
Pulmonary function tests
Mental health records
What medical evidence is considered relevant?
Your medical evidence must cover the period of time that you became disabled and unable to work. Your treatment should be continuous and ongoing. Treatment received prior to becoming unable to work is not necessary. In fact, it can be harmful in some cases.
How does SSA evaluate your medical evidence?
Your medical condition must limit your ability to perform daily activities. SSA will determine the most that you can do despite your disabilities based on your medical evidence. An RFC includes both exertional and non-exertional limitations. Exertional limitations include the:
Ability to sit
To stand
To walk
The amount of weight you can lift or carry
Non-exertional limitations include:
Your ability to climb stairs or ramps or ladders, or ropes or scaffolds
Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl or balance
Your ability to use your hands
Environmental restrictions such as your ability to tolerate temperature extremes or dusts, odors, gases or fumes
Your ability to follow instructions, get along with other people, stay focused or concentrate, maintain a regular, full-time work schedule
Your doctors may also submit an opinion about your disabilities. The opinion should include specific restrictions about your activities.
Disability Help Group, Call Now for a Free Case Review, 800-700-0652
Make sure you start your claim the right way and apply for all the benefits you deserve. If you have already applied for SSI or SSDI, call immediately to make sure your case is still pending and was filed correctly. You may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation.
