From legal to medical, there are several factors that can cause the Social Security Administration to deny a disability claim.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be incredibly important to your financial well-being if, for medical reasons, you are unable to work. However, the vast majority of SSDI claims are denied during the initial application process. There are numerous reasons your claim may be initially denied, depending on your financial situation, your particular disability, or various legal issues surrounding the application. In order to avoid being denied Social Security Disability benefits on your initial application, it can help to have an understanding of the common reasons claims are turned down.
1. Income Qualification
If you file a Social Security Disability Benefits claim and you earn over a certain income threshold each month, your application will be automatically denied. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will not even review disability claims for individuals who earn more than $1,130 per month (as of 2016). Keep in mind that only income from a job counts towards this limit, so any investment income does not affect your ability to receive benefits.
2. Absence of Hard Medical Evidence
In order to justify paying out an Social Security Benefits claim, the SSA requires substantial medical documentation in order to prove you have a medically legitimate reason to avoid working. When determining eligibility, officials assess the available evidence to paint a picture of all of your medical circumstances, including records from all medical professionals who have been treating you. If you are initially denied due to a lack of hard medical evidence, you may be able to work with your doctors to present additional evidence that will validate your claim.
3. Failure to Follow Treatment Plan
Receiving benefits is generally contingent upon trying to return to the workforce in any way you can. While this language is vague and sometimes difficult to monitor, one thing officials can check is if you are blatantly disregarding specific advice from your doctor. At the end of the day, you do not want to give the SSA reason to think you are deliberately avoiding returning to the workforce if you are able to do so.
4. Felony Convictions
There are several reasons felony convictions can affect Social Security Benefit applications. Notably, if your injury occurred during the act of committing a felony and you were later convicted for the crime, you can be denied. Additionally, claims may be denied if you are incarcerated because of a felony conviction or if you have an injury that occurred or worsened while in prison. In some cases involving felonies, the SSA may choose to impose a benefits-free disability period for your claim.
5. Not Cooperating with SSA Officials
Ultimately, your claim is in the hands of SSA officials, and you should comply with their decisions and regulations throughout the process. This includes meeting all deadlines, promptly responding to all requests for additional information, and attending all mandatory consultative examinations.
6. Fraudulent Activity
It’s imperative to be honest at every step of the Social Security Disability benefits application process. If the federal government determines that you are trying to obtain benefits through fraudulent means, they will deny your claim and your benefits will be terminated if you had previously been approved. If you have been denied Social Security benefits in Kentucky, contact Edwards & Kautz at 270-908-4914 to schedule a free legal consultation. The attorneys at Edwards & Kautz can help you get the benefits you deserve through the appeals process.