If your health is so severely impaired that you cannot work, you may have considered applying for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), a federal program designed to provide long-term financial protection for those who’ve paid into the program as working adults.
If you’ve been reluctant to apply for SSDI because of horror stories about mountains of paperwork, denials, and long waiting periods for your first check, take heart: Many of these tales are simply myths. And help for the application process is available – much of it for free.
To help you sort the myths from the facts, we consulted a Social Security spokesperson, a lawyer who handles Social Security disability cases, and a patient advocate.
Myth: Why bother? I’ll just be denied.
Not true for everyone, says William (“BJ”) Jarrett, a spokesperson for the Social Security Administration. While Jarrett says standards are strict, and the process is rigorous, the SSA wants to be certain the person is truly disabled and unable to work the best installment loans New Jersey. And the rejection rate is high, he says. Continue reading 10 Myths and Facts About Social Security Disability Insurance