If you are unable to work or complete daily activities that you once enjoyed, you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. To receive monthly disability benefits, complete an application and have the request approved by the Social Security Administration, or SSA. You can find a disability benefit application on the SSA’s website, https://secure.ssa.gov/iCLM/dib, or you can request an application by phone or in person at the Santa Cruz Social Security office.

You will need to complete two forms when applying for disability benefits: 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. The SSA will need all of your 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 Santa Cruz Social Security office.

After the SSA receives 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 includes all eligible conditions and the condition’s symptoms and possible treatments. Also, the SSA will determine whether you are engaged in substantial gainful activity. 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. The SSA will assign a new evaluator to consider your claim following your request for reconsideration. In addition, the SSA allows applicants to submit additional information for the evaluator to consider, like additional medical records that strengthen your disability claim. You should be aware, however, that the majority of disability claims remain denied following the SSA’s reconsideration of a disability application.

After you receive a reconsideration denial, you can request a Social Security disability hearing. At the Social Security disability hearing, a judge will ask you 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.

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.

The process of applying for disability benefits can be lengthy. Therefore, if you have any additional questions about how to file for disability benefits in Santa Cruz or the disability appeal process, contact the SSA’s office in Santa Cruz or visit the SSA’s website http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm.