Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Social Security Attorney Richard Griffin has successful handled a large number of Social Security Disability Claims. From this experience at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C., Attorney Richard Griffin has noticed that there are 7 common reasons why Social Security Disability Claims are often denied at the first stage of the application process. These 7 common reasons why Social Security Claims are denied can be found below:

1. CLAIMANT IS STILL WORKING: If you are still working even part-time at the time when you are applying for social security disability, then the Social Security Administration will usually conclude that you are not disabled from work.

2. CLAIMANT DOES NOT HAVE A SEVERE IMPAIRMENT: Often Claimants feel that they simply cannot work any more. However, unless your opinion is supported by a documented, diagnosed, and treated medical conditions, then it is unlikely that social security disability benefits will be awarded. Further, your disabling medical condition must be causing you a "severe impairment". Severe impairments usually are medical conditions that have a negative impact on your ability to work and your ability to conduct your daily activities.

3. CLAIMANT HAS NOT WORKED ENOUGH: If the claimant has not worked enough or has not paid into social security through payroll taxes, then you may not have sufficient quarters to qualify for Social Security Disability.

4. CLAIMANT IS TOO YOUNG: The Social Security Administration considers everyone under the age of fifty to be in the “young category”. In the young category you must not only show a severe impairment, but you must also prove you cannot do any kind of light duty work. Older claimants for Social Security Disability Benefits have a lower burden of proof of merely showing a severe impairment that prevents you from doing the work you normally did.

5. CLAIMANT IS RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: If the claimant is receiving unemployment compensation benefits, then you are very unlikely to also be granted Social Security Disability Benefits. This is because Unemployment Benefits are granted when you are "ready, willing, and able to work" and when you are actively looking for work. This is inconsistent with someone who is disabled from work which is required for Social Security Disability Benefits.

6. CLAIMANT'S DISABILITY WILL NOT LAST 12 MONTHS OR MORE: If you are disabled from work, but your disabling condition will not keep you out of work for at least 12 months, then you will not qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits.

7. CLAIMANT'S IMPAIRMENT IS NOT DOCUMENTED BY MEDICAL RECORDS: If you are disabled from work but your impairment is not documented with medical records, then your Social Security Disability will usually be denied. Usually there must be medical proof (doctor's opinion) that you are disabled. The Social Security Administration may even send you to one of their doctors for an examination, but without past medical treatment establishing your medical condition and impairment you are unlikely to win your claim.

The process of applying for Social Security Disability can be long and confusing. Proving your impairment or disability is often difficult unless you are represented by an experienced Social Security Disability attorneys. Social Security Disability lawyers can make sure your denial is appealed timely and can present your case to the Social Security judge in the best possible light. For this reason it is strongly recommended that you contact an experienced Social Security Lawyer for a free consultation.