Before we go section by section, here’s a snapshot of every document SSA looks for. Print it, save it, or use it as your starting point. The sections below explain what each item actually means and what to do if you’re missing something.
That’s the overview. Now let’s go deeper on each category, because the difference between an approved claim and a denied one is often in the details.
SSA needs to confirm who you are before anything else. These documents establish your identity, your citizenship status, and your eligibility to receive benefits. Most people have everything they need, but a missing birth certificate or a name mismatch between documents can slow your application down.
Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
If you’re applying in the Marietta area, the SSA field office serving Cobb County can help you replace missing documents and confirm what additional identification they need. SSA Cobb County / Kennesaw Field Office, 200 Chastain Center Blvd., Suite 250, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (866) 964-4690 National: (800) 772-1213.
Medical evidence is where most SSDI claims are won or lost. SSA’s decision at every stage, from the initial application to an ALJ hearing, comes down to what the medical record shows about your conditions and how they limit your ability to work. Incomplete records are the single most common reason claims are denied.
Here’s what the record needs to show:
What Is a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Report?
An RFC report is SSA’s formal assessment of what you can still do physically and mentally despite your conditions. It defines your limitations in concrete terms: how long you can sit or stand, how much weight you can lift, whether you can concentrate for sustained periods, how well you handle stress or interact with supervisors.
SSA will create its own RFC based on the evidence in your file. But if your treating physician completes an RFC form directly, that opinion carries substantial weight, especially at the ALJ hearing stage. A well-documented RFC from a doctor who knows your case can be the difference between a favorable decision and another denial.
The form SSA uses is called the Medical Source Statement (Form HA-1152) documenting specific functional limitations. Ask your treating physician whether they’re willing to complete one before you file. Our team can help you understand what the form asks and how to request it from your doctor.
For SSDI, your work history does two things: it determines whether you’ve earned enough work credits to qualify, and it helps SSA assess what jobs you’re capable of performing despite your limitations. The vocational analysis at the hearing stage relies heavily on this documentation.
SSDI requires that you’ve earned enough work credits through Social Security taxes paid on your wages. How many work credits you need for SSDI depends on your age at the time you became disabled. If you don’t have enough work credits, you may still qualify for SSI, which has different rules and different document requirements (more on that below).
Don’t let missing paperwork stop you from filing. This is one of the most common concerns we hear from Marietta clients, and the honest answer is this: you don’t need a perfect file to apply. You need enough to start, and you can build the record from there.
Here’s what you can do when documents are missing:
If your medical records are thin because you haven’t been able to afford consistent treatment, tell your attorney. There are strategies for building the medical record before and during the application process. A disability claim denied because of insufficient evidence is often something that can be addressed on appeal, but it’s much better to build a complete file from the start.
Filing for SSDI is not like filling out a standard government form. The details matter. Here are the mistakes that most often slow claims down or cause preventable denials.
Avoid these pitfalls before you file. Speak with a Keener Law attorney about your application before you submit it.
Georgia has its own Disability Adjudication Services (DAS) office, which handles the medical evaluation of SSDI and SSI applications for the state. When SSA receives your application, they forward the medical portion to Georgia DAS for review. Understanding how DAS operates in Georgia affects your strategy.
Georgia DAS processing times. Initial application decisions in Georgia typically take four to six months, though complex cases or cases with incomplete records take longer. This is why complete documentation matters from day one. Incomplete records lead to requests for additional information, which adds weeks to the timeline.
Consultative Examinations (CEs) in Georgia. If Georgia DAS determines your existing medical records aren’t sufficient, they may schedule a Consultative Examination, a one-time appointment with an SSA-contracted physician. These exams tend to be brief. They often don’t produce detailed functional findings. Whenever possible, it’s better to have robust records from your own treating physicians than to rely on a CE. If you’re scheduled for a CE, your attorney should prepare you for what to expect.
ALJ hearings in Georgia. If your case reaches the hearing level, it will be assigned to an Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Hearing Operations (OHO) serving your area. Wait times for ALJ hearings in Georgia vary by office and current caseload. Current wait times are about 7 months. Our attorneys are familiar with the local hearing process and how to present cases effectively. [See: disability hearing process in Georgia]
Applying in Marietta. The SSA field office serving Cobb County handles in-person applications, records requests, and appeals. (SSA Cobb County / Kennesaw Field Office, 200 Chastain Center Blvd., Suite 250, Kennesaw, GA 30144 Phone: (866) 964-4690.) You can also apply online at SSA.gov or by phone. If you apply online, save your application reference number. If you apply by phone, request a copy of the completed application before hanging up.
When you work with Keener Law, you have a team in Marietta that knows the local process from initial application through federal court if needed. Applying for disability in Georgia has nuances that national firms without local presence simply don’t see.
SSDI and SSI both pay monthly benefits to people with disabilities, but they’re separate programs with different eligibility rules, and different document requirements.
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is based on your work history. You qualify if you’ve earned enough work credits through payroll taxes over your career. The documents above cover everything you need for an SSDI application.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is needs-based. There’s no work history requirement, but SSI has strict financial limits on income and assets. Eligibility is limited to individuals with $2,000 of countable assets, or $3,000 for couples applying. If you’re applying for SSI or if you’re applying for both programs at the same time, which is common, you’ll need additional documentation:
If you’re not sure which program applies to your situation, or whether you qualify for both, that’s exactly the kind of question our attorneys answer in a free consultation. Many people are eligible for both SSDI and SSI simultaneously, especially if their SSDI benefit amount is low.
The SSDI application is not designed to be intuitive. It asks for specific information in specific formats, and the answers you give directly affect how SSA evaluates your claim. Here’s how Keener Law’s attorneys work with you through the documentation process:
We request your medical records on your behalf. With a signed authorization, we contact your physicians, hospitals, and specialists directly. We follow up when records are delayed, identify gaps in the file, and request additional documentation when the evidence needs strengthening. You shouldn’t have to track down your own medical history while dealing with a disability.
We identify what’s missing before SSA does. A gap in the medical record that SSA flags during review is a delay. A gap we find first is an opportunity. We review your file before submission and flag anything that could be used to deny the claim. That means requesting RFC opinions from treating physicians, identifying underdocumented conditions, and making sure every relevant diagnosis is on the record.
We prepare you for the application questions. The SSA-3368 (Disability Report — Adult) asks about your daily activities, your ability to care for yourself, and how your conditions have changed over time. The answers matter. We walk you through each question so your responses accurately reflect your limitations without understating them.
We handle SSA communication. Once your application is filed, SSA may send requests for additional information, schedule a Consultative Examination, or issue notices with response deadlines. We manage that communication and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. The 60-day appeal window after a denial is not flexible, one missed deadline can cost you your case.
Our attorneys have handled disability cases throughout Marietta and Cobb County. With 30 years of experience, we know the local DAS examiners’ patterns, the ALJ hearing process at the Georgia OHO offices, and how to build a file that holds up at every stage.
If you’re ready to start, or if you’ve already been denied and need to understand your options, schedule a free consultation with Keener Law. There’s no fee unless we win your case, attorney fees in Social Security Disability cases are contingency-based and regulated by SSA. The regulated fee is 25% of back pay, up to a cap of $9,200.
Medical records are the most important documents in an SSDI application. SSA’s decision depends entirely on what the medical evidence shows about your conditions and how they limit your ability to work. Beyond that, you’ll need personal identification (Social Security card, birth certificate, government-issued ID) and employment documentation (W-2s, work history for the past 5 years). If your medical file is thin, that’s the gap to address first.
SSA generally wants medical records from at least 12 months before your application date, but older records are often relevant, especially if your condition has a long history or a specific onset date. For SSDI, your records need to show that you became disabled before your Date Last Insured (DLI). If your DLI was several years ago, records from that period are critical even if they’re old. When in doubt, gather everything you have.
Yes. SSA accepts other proof of age if you don’t have a birth certificate, including a religious record made before age 5, a hospital birth record, a U.S. passport, or a school record showing your date of birth. If none of those are available, SSA may accept other documentation. If you need a birth certificate and were born in Georgia, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Office of Vital Records.
Missing records don’t disqualify you from applying. When you sign Form SSA-827, SSA can request records directly from your healthcare providers. The problem is that SSA’s requests are sometimes slow or incomplete. A disability attorney can send records requests on your behalf, follow up directly with providers, and make sure the file is complete before your case goes to a DASexaminer or ALJ.
For SSDI, yes. Work history documents are required to verify your work credits and to help SSA assess your past relevant work in the vocational analysis. For SSI, work history is not a qualifying factor, SSI is based on financial need, not your work record. If you’re unsure which program you qualify for, or whether you qualify for both, an attorney can review your situation before you apply.
It depends on how much you’re earning. In 2026, Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is $1,69 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,830 for blind individuals. If your earnings are at or above the SGA threshold, SSA will typically deny your application at step one of the evaluation, before even reviewing your medical records. If you’re earning below SGA, you can still apply. Some situations, like working in a trial work period or doing part-time work far below your previous capacity, have specific rules. Speak with an attorney before filing if you’re currently employed.
Initial decisions from SSA and Georgia DAS typically take four to six months, though processing times vary by case complexity and record completeness. If denied, reconsideration adds another three to five months. ALJ hearings in Georgia currently have wait times of 12 months or more depending on the office and backlog. The disability hearing process in Georgia has specific timelines you should understand before you file. Most people who pursue their case through the ALJ hearing stage ultimately receive benefits — but the process takes time.
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is based on your work history and Social Security taxes you’ve paid. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is needs-based and available to people with limited income and assets regardless of work history. Both programs use the same medical definition of disability, but SSI requires additional financial documentation and has income and asset limits. Many applicants are eligible for both. The benefit amounts, Medicare vs. Medicaid eligibility, and back pay rules differ significantly between the two programs.
Yes. SSA accepts electronic medical records, scanned documents, and digital uploads through its online portal. If you apply online, you can upload supporting documents directly. For documents submitted in person or by mail, SSA will scan them into your file. Your attorney’s office can also submit records on your behalf electronically in many cases. Keep copies of everything you submit, both digital and physical.
Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can apply for SSDI if they’ve earned sufficient work credits through employment in the United States and paid Social Security taxes on those earnings. For SSI, there are specific residency and status requirements — not all immigrants qualify, and eligibility rules have changed over the years. If you’re a non-citizen and unsure whether you qualify, an attorney can review your immigration status and work history to assess your options.
Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every disability case is different. For advice about your specific situation, contact a qualified Social Security Disability attorney or representative. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.