Filing for Disability Benefits in Los Angeles

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If you have a physical or mental condition that interferes with your ability to maintain employment, you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration, or SSA, will provide you with monthly disability benefits if you are unable to work because of your condition. For example, if you suffer from a back condition that requires you to remain in a fixed position for the majority of your day and you receive treatment from a physician for your condition, you may qualify for disability benefits. 

To apply for disability benefits, complete a Social Security disability application. You can obtain an application for Social Security disability benefits on the SSA’s website, https://secure.ssa.gov/iCLM/dib. Complete the disability application along with an Authorization to Disclose Information Form. The Authorization to Disclose Information Form is very important and allows the SSA to contact your doctor to obtain your medical records. It is necessary to provide the SSA with all pertinent medical information supporting your request for disability benefits. Submit the application online or visit the Los Angeles Social Security office.

After the SSA receives your disability application, the SSA will evaluate your claim. During the evaluation, the SSA will consider a number of factors including your medical condition and whether you are engaged in substantial gainful activity. As of 2012, an applicant is engaged in substantial gainful activity if an applicant earns $1,010 or more per month through employment. In addition, the SSA evaluator will compare your medical condition to the SSA’s Listing of Impairments. The Listing of Impairments creates guidelines for disability claim evaluators to determine how your condition compares to SSA approved medical conditions for disability benefits. Shortly after you submit your claim, you will receive notice of your disability status through the mail. However, the SSA denies the majority of initial disability benefit applications. Fortunately, the SSA allows claimants to appeal the SSA's denial of disability benefits.

First, you can file a request for reconsideration with the SSA. During the request for reconsideration, a new individual will evaluate your claim to determine whether you are eligible to receive disability benefits. Unfortunately, the majority of disability claims remain denied following the request for reconsideration step of the appeal process. If you still wish to appeal the decision at this point, you can request a Social Security disability hearing and appear before an Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ. At the disability hearing, the ALJ will ask you questions regarding your medical condition including how the condition interferes with your ability to maintain employment. In addition, the ALJ may ask a Vocational Expert to testify regarding the type of employment available to you given your education, skills, and training in addition to your medical condition. Most claimants receive a favorable decision following a disability hearing. 

However, if the ALJ denies your request for disability benefits, you can file an additional appeal with the Social Security Appeals Council. The Appeals Council’s role is to evaluate whether the ALJ considered the appropriate information. The Appeals Council will not consider whether the ALJ made the correct decision based upon the facts. If the Appeals Council reverses the ALJ’s decision, the Appeals Council may recommend a reevaluation of your disability claim by the same ALJ with additional instructions.

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