How Do I Apply for Social Security Disability in South Carolina?

How do you apply for Social Security Disability benefits in South Carolina?

If you get sick or injured and you’re unable to work, the bill collectors don’t care. You still have to pay your mortgage or rent, and your family still has to eat…

For the nine million or so people in this situation, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides desperately needed relief.

SSDI pays monthly benefits to people who are unable to work because of an illnesss, injury, or impairment that is expected to last a year or more or result in death.

It’s not an “entitlement” or a hand-out, but rather an insurance benefit for which you’ve already paid. If you have never worked, you are not eligible to receive SSDI because you have never paid into Social Security. How much you receive in SSDI payments depends on how long you worked and how much money you made when you worked.

So, how do you apply for Social Security when you need it?

How Do You Apply for Social Security Disability?

Before you fill out your Social Security Disability application, we need to confirm that you have a “qualifying disability.”

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the definition of “qualifying disability” found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at § 404.1505. The disability must result in “the inability to do any substantial gainful activity” due to a physical or mental impairment that is expected to:

1. Result in death, or
2. Last more than 12 months.

The disability also must prevent you from:

1. Returning to the same type of employment you had before the disability, or
2. Finding employment doing “any other substantial gainful work that exists in the national economy.”

You will need to prove that you have a qualifying disability that meets the definition above through medical evidence, so your medical condition and its effect on your ability to perform your job duties must be documented in your medical records.

Information You Will Need for Your Social Security Disability Application

Once you have determined that you have a disability that meets the SSA’s definition of “qualifying disability” and your medical condition and disability are documented, you will need to submit a Social Security Disability application.

Once completed, you or your attorney can submit your application in person, by mail, or on the Social Security Administration’s website.

On the application, you will need to provide your personal identifying information, your medical history, and your employment history.

To apply for Social Security disability benefits, you will need to provide personal identifying information including:

• Your birthday,
• Your birthplace, w
• Your social security number,
• Your spouse’s identifying information,
• Any former spouses’ identifying information,
• Identifying information for any minor children, and
• Your bank account information including your routing and checking account numbers.

You will need to provide your medical history including:

• A contact person who knows your medical history and can communicate with the SSA on your behalf when needed,
• Contact information for all medical providers who have treated your condition including dates of treatment,
• A list of your medications, and
• Information about medical tests including the types of tests, dates of tests, and physicians who ordered the tests.

You will need to provide information about your work history including:

• Your income for this year and last year,
• Contact information for your employers for this year and last year,
• A list of employers and dates of employment for the last 15 years,
• Dates of military service if it was before 1968, and
• Information about any social security disability or workers’ compensation benefits you have received in the past.

You will need to provide other documentation along with your application that may include:

• Birth certificate,
• Proof of citizenship or immigration status,
• Military discharge papers if before 1968,
• W-2s or tax returns if self-employed,
• Documentation of social security disability or workers’ compensation benefits you have received, and
• All medical records related to your disability.

Do I Need an Attorney to Apply for Social Security Disability?

Your Myrtle Beach, SC social security and disability attorney can help you to file your application and ensure that you are providing the necessary documentation to the Social Security Administration.

Whether you file the application yourself or your attorney files for you, the key is to provide complete, thorough medical records proving that you will be unable to work for at least 12 months because of your condition.

You can file the application yourself. So, why would you need a Social Security Disability attorney?

Depending on your situation and the stage of your case, your attorney will:

• Review your case and your medical records to determine whether you have a qualifying disability as defined by the SSA,
• Help you to gather the personal information, medical records, work history, and documentation to ensure your application is complete,
• Complete and submit your application on your behalf,
• Request a contested hearing, request a reconsideration, or file any necessary appeals on your behalf, and
• Maximize your chances of success at every stage of your case.

GOT AXELROD?

Your SSDI attorney on the Axelrod team will ensure that you are providing the necessary medical records and documentation to the SSA and will help you locate medical or employment experts when necessary to prove your claim.

Whether you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits, or you have already applied and your claim has been denied, call Axelrod and Associates at 843-258-4582 or complete our online contact form for a free initial consultation with a SC Social Security Disability attorney.