What Mistakes Can Delay Your Disability Benefit Approval in Georgia?

When a disabling medical condition prevents you from working, monthly benefit payments through the Social Security Administration can ease financial hardship. The last thing you want is needlessly delayed disability benefits Georgia caused by preventable mistakes.

The team of professionals at the Keener Law Firm believes you should be aware of common mistakes that can result in disability claim processing delays that could even lead to the denial of the claim. Just remember that the disability benefits team at the Keener Law Firm will be there when you need us with advice and skilled representation.

Claims that Lack Sufficient Medical Evidence

The disability benefits application process places the burden on claimants to prove a medical condition expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death, which keeps them from doing substantial gainful work activity. A diagnosis and statement from a physician will not be sufficient to have a claim approved.

Federal regulations require objective medical evidence to prove the presence of a disabling medical condition. Medical evidence supporting a claim may include:

• Medical history and physical examination with notes of a doctor’s findings and diagnosis.
• Blood and other laboratory test results.
• Diagnostic imaging reports, such as MRI, X-ray, CT scans, and other specialized imaging, depending on the medical condition.
• Specialist reports based on evaluations of the patient.
• A treatment plan, including medications and other forms of treatment prescribed by healthcare providers for the patient.
• Hospital records, including clinic and emergency room visits for treatment.
• Surgical records, if any.

Gaps in medical care can be detrimental to a claim, so keep your medical records current by visiting doctors and other health professionals for ongoing examinations and treatment.

Failing To Gather Documentation And Information Before Filling Out An Application

An application for Social Security disability benefits asks for a great deal of information about you, including marriage, divorce, work record, education, and details about your medical condition. Preparation reduces the risk of common disability application errors that delay the claims review process. If you fail to reply to requests for corrections, the claim could be denied.

Documents to gather before you start to prepare an application include:

• Proof of birth: Birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or other official document.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or alien registration certificate.
• Employment information: W-2, 1099, or self-employment tax return for the year previous tax year.
• Medical evidence: Collect medical records, including test results, for the disabling medical conditions.
• Proof of public disability benefit payments: Award letters or other proof of receipt of benefits through workers’ compensation, state disability programs, and other public benefits payments.
• Education information, including vocational training.
• Information about jobs that you held in the five years immediately preceding the onset of your disability.

The application for Social Security disability benefits includes a requirement that you complete an Adult Disability Report. The report asks for information about your medical condition, including the names and contact information of all healthcare providers that treated you, prescription and non-prescription medications, and other information. If you do not complete the report, it will delay processing of the claim.

Failing To Comply With Medication And Treatment Prescribed By Healthcare Professionals

One of the disability claim mistakes Georgia applicants make that can defeat their chance of being awarded Social Security disability benefits is failing to take prescribed medications or participate in treatment as recommended by a healthcare provider. If the treatment plan prescribed by your doctors could be expected to improve your ability to work, failing to follow it could lead to the denial of your claim.

Only proof of a justifiable cause for failure to take medication or participate in treatment prescribed by your doctor may prevent denial of a claim. Justifiable cause includes the following:

• The treatment violates your religious beliefs.
• You have an intense and unrelenting fear of surgery recommended as treatment.
• You cannot afford the prescribed treatment or medication, and no free or subsidized sources exist.
• The treatment recommended by a treating healthcare provider has been advised against by another treating medical provider.
• The treatment has a high degree of risk or requires amputation of an extremity.

This is not an all-inclusive list of justifications, so you should discuss your concerns with a disability attorney at the Keener Law Firm.

Don’t File a Disability Benefits Claim Without a Disability Attorney

A disability attorney at the Keener Law Firm knows how to avoid the many reasons disability approval delayed GA. If you filed an application and had it denied, a member of our team of disability professionals can challenge it through the disability appeals process. Let the Keener Law Firm show you how disability claims, delays and denials need not be an accepted part of the application process. Contact us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.