2020-2022 BIAK Resource Journal 25
Federal/State Resources
For example, if a person has a brain injury and waits a year or two
to see if they are disabled, the process won’t go any faster and you
will not be paid for the time you were waiting to see if you were
disabled. If you apply and you find out you can go back to work,
you are certainly free to decline the benefits.
What Information Do I Need?
The Social Security Administration will require a lot of
information from you when you apply for SSDI benefits and the
information they need includes:
• Your Social Security number
• Your birth or baptismal certificate
• Names, address and phone numbers of the
doctors, caseworkers, hospitals and clinics that
took care of you along with the dates of your \visits
• Names and dosage of all the medications you take
• Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals,
clinics, and caseworkers you already have in your possession
• Laboratory and test results
• Summary of your work history, i.e., the type of work you did
and how long you worked
• A copy of your most recent W-2 Form (Wage and Tax
Statement) or, if you are self-employed, your federal tax
returns from the past year.
• You may need your spouse’s birth certificate, children’s birth
certificate or dates of prior marriages if you spouse or children
are applying for benefits.
How Do I Apply for Disability Benefits?
1. Apply online at www.ssa.gov ; or
2. Call their toll-free number 1-800-772-1213, to inquire about
making an appointment to file a disability claim at your local
Social Security. Some offices can take the application over
the telephone, or you can go to the office and apply in
person. This claims interview lasts for about one hour, so plan
accordingly.
What if My Claim is Denied?
If the letter you receive from the state says your claim has been
denied, you have sixty (60) days to request an appeal from the
date you receive their letter. They will assume you will receive the
letter five days after the letter was sent, unless you can show them
you received it later. The fastest way to begin the appeals process
is to visit www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/appeal . There, you
can upload the documents you need to make your appeal, which
will shorten the time it takes to receive a decision from Social
Security. Call your local Social Security office if you need help
with your appeal.
There are four levels of appeal and they are:
• Reconsideration, a complete review of your claim by someone
who did not take part in the first decision.
• Hearing. If you disagree with the reconsideration decision,
you may ask for a hearing. This will be conducted by an
administrative law judge who had no part in the original or
the reconsideration decision. You may bring witnesses to this
trial if you wish.
• Appeals Council is an option if you disagree with the hearing
decision.
• Federal Court. If you disagree with the Appeals Council’s
decision, or if the Appeals Council declines to hear your case,
you may file a lawsuit in federal deistic court.
Will I Need an Attorney?
It is quite possible that an attorney will be needed to help you
with this process, especially the appeals process. If you need an
attorney in Kentucky, you can call the Kentucky Bar Association
at (502) 564-3795 and they can provide you with a listing of
attorneys and their specialties in SSDI applications. Please see
the section Legal Resources for more information. Many of
the attorneys who specialize in SSDI applications are paid on a
contingency and receive their money from the lump sum that
SSA will give from the time of your application to the time you
are approved.
I was told that I did not have enough work credits for SSDI. Is
there any other help?
If you don’t have a sufficient work history and have limited
income and resources, you can apply for Supplemental Security
Income on-line at www.socialsecurity.gov or call the national
toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 and set up an appointment with
your local Social Security office. Or you may contact your local
Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) at 1-855-
306-8959 they can direct you to your local DCBS, where you can
sign up for SSI, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or
SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid.
Disability.gov
Disability.gov is the federal government’s website
for comprehensive information on disability programs and
services in communities nationwide.
New information is added daily across 10 main subject areas:
benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency
preparedness, employment, health, housing, technology, and
transportation. This information is only available from their
website: www.disability.gov
/www.ssa.gov
/appeal
/www.socialsecurity.gov
/Disability.gov
/Disability.gov
/www.disability.gov