Ever since you first got a job at a fast food restaurant or a grocery store as a teenager, you have made contributions to Social Security. Your employer withholds funds to send on your behalf to all applicable tax authorities. You accrue credits for your contributions that eventually make you eligible for certain benefits.
You might expect to make a claim against those credits in the future when you are ready to retire. Social Security retirement benefits can be an excellent supplement to personal retirement savings. However, for a small percentage of working adults, some kind of medical issue will arise while they are still below retirement age that will put an end to their career development.
Individuals with degenerative medical conditions and permanent injuries are among those who may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) insurance benefits. While those benefits may exist for your protection, they can be very difficult to access. What are your chances of securing an approval when you apply for SSD benefits?
Roughly one in five applicants get approved immediately
According to data provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the average applicant is more likely to get a rejection notice that an approval letter. Only 21% of initial applicants get benefits shortly after applying, at least according to internal records provided by the SSA. When looking at all of the applications handled between 2010 and 2019, only a fraction of applicants received a quick approval.
The remaining 79% of people either gave up or appealed the decision against them. Appealing is often a worthwhile endeavor, as another 10% of applicants will typically get their benefits through an appeal. Reconsiderations lead to another 2% of people getting benefits, while 8% of applicants eventually get benefits after a hearing in front of an administrative law judge.
Don’t let misinformation keep you from the support you need
The misinformation that people spread about SSD benefits may stop some people who need support from even applying. Others may not fight for their benefits after an unsuccessful initial application.
Recognizing that securing benefits is possible even after a rejection initially could motivate you to fight for the SSD benefits you need because of your medical concerns.