If you have applied for social security disability (SSD) benefits and your claim has been denied, you should know that you aren’t alone. As much as 70 percent of SSD applications will receive a denial. This is due to a number of different factors, and fortunately, a denial doesn’t mean that you can’t obtain the approval you need to survive.

Appealing your denial is the next step in securing SSD benefits you need. But filing an appeal can be just as confusing as the application for benefits. If you are appealing or planning to appeal your social security disability appeal, read on to learn more about the steps you and your attorney can take to win.

Make Sure Your Application Is Complete and Error-Free

There are four different levels of appeals, and the first of them is the SSD reconsideration request. Here, you’ll be asking the Social Security Administration (SSA) to have an independent agent of the SSA review your application again. Essentially, this means that someone who hasn’t already seen your case will review it to determine if your claim for benefits should be approved.

Most appeals are resolved at this level, that’s why it is imperative to ensure that your application is complete and error-free before you even file your reconsideration request. One of the most common reasons for a social security disability claim to be denied is errors in the application itself. Though these can be easily fixed, this minor mistake could result in the delay of your benefits being approved.

Provide Documentation That Supports the Extent of Your Disability

The requirements for SSD approval are quite clear. You must have earned enough work credits in your employment history and be disabled by your condition to the point that you are unable to support yourself financially without the assistance of social security disability benefits.

When a claim is denied, it’s typically because the SSA representative has determined that the claimant does not meet the requirements for SSD benefit approval.

To ensure that your appeal is a success at the reconsideration stage of appeals—or any appeals that might come after—you must be sure that you are providing the SSA with enough evidence and documentation to support the severity of your condition.

In some cases, you may need to fill out additional waivers so the SSA representative can review other medical records, or even have your physicians provide documentation that confirms you are unable to earn a living due to the extent of your condition. If you want to win your appeal, your reconsideration request has to be ironclad.

Get Help from a Social Security Disability Lawyer in Boston

When you are suffering from a disabling condition, you don’t have time to wait for your SSD application to go through a lengthy appeal. For help expediting and winning your social security disability appeal, contact a knowledgeable Boston social security disability lawyer at Joel H. Schwartz, PC.

We provide free claim reviews to disabled individuals across Boston and its surrounding cities. You can schedule yours by filling out the contact form below or by giving our office a call at 617-742-1170.