Few of us hope to find ourselves in need of disability benefits. However, sometimes things happen, and we end up injured — often through no fault of our own.

It helps to understand the process associated with applying for disability benefits, as well as for claiming your insurance benefits if you pay for disability insurance. Here are some of the things you need to know about applying for disability benefits:

Social Security Benefits

If you are disabled, you might be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Realize, though, that you might have to wait to receive your benefits. It takes between three and five months for the Social Security Administration to process your claim. In order to speed things up, you can gather the needed documents ahead of time.

You will be required to prove your disability, and show how it prevents you from working, whether it’s for a short period of time, or for a long period of time. Here is a list of some of the information you need as you apply for Social Security benefits:

  1. Social Security number
  2. Proof of current age
  3. Contact information for doctors, caseworkers, therapists, hospitals, clinics, and others involved in your care.
  4. The dates of visits made to health care providers and caseworkers.
  5. Medical records for all health care received.
  6. All of the information about medications you take.
  7. A recent W-2 form, or a copy of your federal tax return if you are self-employed.
  8. Summary of your place of employment, as well as the work you completed.

It’s important that you either send original documents, or that you have certified copies made. In any case, you need to keep your own records. So, before you send off any document, make sure that you create a copy for yourself.

Disability Insurance

If you have been disabled and you need a payout from your insurance company, you need to file a claim. You can do this by contacting your insurance company. As with applying for Social Security disability benefits, you will need to include documentation and other information about your job, your injury or illness, and other items related to your claim.

It can take weeks or months for the insurance company to process your claim. As a result, it’s important to start your claim as soon as possible. Make sure that you understand what your claim entails. Ready up on your policy to verify that you qualify.

Get Help from Your Lawyer

Sometimes, no matter how thoroughly you document your case, others balk at providing you the disability benefits that you need. If one thing is wrong on an application, or if you say the wrong thing to an insurance representative while making your claim, your benefits might be delayed — or even denied.

It makes sense to get help from a knowledgeable lawyer. The expert attorneys at Ingerman & Horwitz can help you navigate the paperwork. We can tell you what to expect, and how to talk with mid-level managers who might be holding up your claim. Having us on your side can be especially important when you are dealing with a disability insurance company. These companies often do what they can to get out of paying on your claim. We can show them that you are serious, and that you won’t be pushed around.
Filing for disability benefits can be tricky and tedious, whether you file with the government or try to get a payout from the insurance company. Make sure you understand the process, and consider letting us help you complete the paperwork properly. To find out more, please feel free to contact us today.  We’re here to help.