Do you have a medical condition that’s serious enough that it’s expected to last at least one year or result in death? Does your condition prevent you from engaging in meaningful work? If your answer is “yes” to both questions, you’re probably interested in applying for Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security Disability benefits help disabled individuals pay for their basic necessities, such as food, clothing, and shelter. In order for people to be eligible for SSDI, they must be the Social Security Administration’s definition of a disability, and they must have worked long enough and paid into the system to qualify. For example, if a woman graduated high school, got married right away and became a homemaker, she wouldn’t qualify for SSDI because she never had a job. Suppose the same woman was 32 when she got her first job, but she only worked for one year before she found out that she developed a serious case of Multiple Sclerosis. While MS is on the SSA’s Adult Listing of Impairments, the woman would not qualify for SSDI because she only paid into the system for one year. Let’s say you’ve worked all your adult life and you’re certain you’ve worked long enough to apply for disability benefits. In that case, you’re going to need to gather certain documentation before applying for benefits. Read on to learn more.
Collecting the Necessary Documents
Here is a list of the documents you’re going to need to start gathering before you apply for disability benefits:
- Your birth certificate.
- If you were not born in the U.S., proof that you are a citizen or a legal alien.
- If you were in the Armed Forces before 1968, your military discharge papers.
- Your W-2s or 1099s for the most recent tax year.
- The medical evidence that you have, such as recent test results, medical records, and doctors’ reports.
- If you’re receiving any type of workers’ compensation benefits, award letters, pay stubs or settlement agreements to prove it.
To file a claim for disability benefits in Plano or Dallas, contact our firm to schedule a consultation with a Dallas SSDI lawyer! We are here to guide you through the process.