Social Security disability benefits are available to individuals that suffer from a physical or mental condition that interferes with their ability to work or engage in daily activities. However, to receive monthly disability benefits, you must complete an application and have the request approved by the Social Security Administration, or SSA. Applications are available on the SSA’s website, https://secure.ssa.gov/iCLM/dib. In addition, you can request an application by phone or in person at the Bakersfield Social Security office.  

Complete a disability application and an Authorization to Disclose Information Form. The Authorization to Disclose Information Form allows the SSA to contact your doctor to obtain your medical records and discuss your condition.  This form is important because the SSA will need all of the medical information about your condition to make a decision regarding your disability eligibility. Submit the completed forms online through the SSA’s website, or in person at the Bakersfield Social Security office.

Upon receiving your disability application, the SSA will assign an evaluator to review your application. During the evaluation of your claim, the SSA considers whether your condition is eligible for disability benefits, including whether you are engaged in substantial gainful activity. To determine your condition’s eligibility for disability benefits, an SSA evaluator will compare your condition to the SSA’s Listing of Impairments. The Listing of Impairments lists all eligible conditions including the condition’s symptoms and possible treatments. In addition, according to the SSA, substantial and gainful activity means that an applicant is earning $1,010 or more per month while working. After reviewing your application, the SSA will either approve or deny your claim for disability benefits, and you will receive a letter in the mail stating the SSA’s decision. If the SSA denies your claim for disability benefits, you can appeal the SSA’s decision.

Following a disability claim denial, you can request the SSA to reconsider your application. During the request for reconsideration, the SSA assigns a new evaluator to consider your claim. In addition, you can submit additional information for the evaluator to consider, like a note from your treating doctor or additional medical records evidencing your condition. Unfortunately, the majority of disability claims remain denied following the SSA’s request for reconsideration.

After you receive a reconsideration denial, you can request a Social Security disability hearing. During a Social Security disability hearing, you will testify before a judge and answer questions about your medical condition, including how the condition affects your ability to engage in daily activities. The judge may also request that a Vocational Expert testify about the kind of employment available to you considering several factors including your education, skills, training, and your medical condition.  

However, if the judge denies your disability claim after the disability hearing, you can file an appeal with the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council’s role is to evaluate whether the judge considered the appropriate information during the disability hearing, not whether the judge reached the correct conclusion regarding your disability eligibility. If the Appeals Council finds errors in the judge’s decision, the Appeals Council may recommend a reevaluation of your disability claim.

If you have any additional questions about how to file for disability benefits in Bakersfield or the disability appeal process, contact the SSA’s office in Bakersfield or visit the SSA’s website http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm.