Part 3 of 5 - A Self-Help Guide: Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits By Janie M. Laubscher
Keep Records And Gather Medically-Related Information
When you fill out your application for SSDI, you'll be asked information for your medical sources such as:
- names, addresses, and telephone numbers
- HMO/chart/patient numbers
- type of treatment received
- dates of first, last and next appointments
Keep Your Records As You Go Along
It's a lot easier to keep records as you go along rather than trying to remember or looking up all this information when you're completing your application.
Here's what I suggest: Every time you have a medical appointment of any kind, write down the doctor's name or place name, the date and the reason for the appointment - or enter the information in your computer. If the appointment is for X-rays or laboratory tests or if it is for a consultation or therapy, then also record the name of the doctor who ordered it. The first time you visit a doctor, hospital, laboratory or other medical source ask for a business card. Make sure it contains their name, address and telephone number.
If a doctor's specialty is not shown, find out what it is and write it on his/her card. And if anyone has a fax number, be sure to get that too. Fax can help to speed up the processing of your application. Keep all these cards together (a zip-lock bag works well) so you'll have the information readily available when you start filling out your application. Keep your cards up-to-date. Get new ones when any information changes. The alternative is to surf the yellow pages. This works but it takes longer, and the information may be outdated.
Gather Your Personal Data And Evidence
When you apply for benefits, you'll be asked to provide certain non-medical information and evidence. Get it together ahead of time. Shown below is a questionnaire one Social Security Office sends out to applicants to alert them to the need for this material. Print it and use it as a worksheet. Fill in the information requested and begin to gather your documentary evidence such as your birth certificate.
CLAIMS QUESTIONNAIRE - (Please Print)
Please have form completed and available at scheduled appointment.
NAME: ______________ SSN:_____________
ADDRESS:______________
HOME PHONE: __________WORK PHONE:________
YOUR DATE OF BIRTH:________PLACE OF BIRTH:________
DATE OF MARRIAGE:__________PLACE OF MARRIAGE:_____
SPOUSE'S NAME & DATE OF BIRTH:____________
SPOUSE'S SSN:__________
THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL BE REQUIRED ON EVERY PRIOR MARRIAGE. IF PRIOR MARRIAGE ENDED IN DIVORCE/DEATH, PLEASE FURNISH DATE.
DO YOU HAVE A BIRTH OR BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE ESTABLISHED BEFORE AGE 5: YES___NO___ (IF YES, YOU WILL NEED TO PRESENT THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT TO US. THE DOCUMENT WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU. IF NO, PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY AT:___
ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING? YES___ NO___
ESTIMATED EARNINGS FROM WORK THIS YEAR:_______
IF YOU HAD EARNINGS LAST YEAR, YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE YOUR W-2 (S) OR IF YOU WERE SELF-EMPLOYED, YOUR COMPLETE TAX RETURN.
IF YOU ARE DISABLED, DATE YOU BECAME DISABLED:_________
IF YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY, WE WILL NEED TO SEE YOUR DD-2l4(S) OR AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT(S) SHOWING DATE OF ENTRY AND DATE OF DISCHARGE FOR EACH MILITARY SERVICE PERIOD. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE DOCUMENT(S), PLEASE FURNISH FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
BRANCH OF SERVICE:______DATES OF SERVICE:______
IF YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN UNDER AGE 19 OR DISABLED, PLEASE SHOW NAME(S) AND DATE(S) OF BIRTH. (WE MAY NEED TO SEE THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE(S).
IF YOU ARE RETIRED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHAT IS YOUR
CIVIL SERVICE CLAIM NUMBER:________. WHAT DATE WERE YOU FIRST ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:_____.
WHAT IS THE GROSS AMOUNT OF YOUR PENSION:_________.
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Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits - A 5 Part Self-Help Guide
In the next part, Part 4 - Begin The Application Process, I'll tell you how to start your application for SSDI benefits.
Related Resources - Social Security Disability Benefits
About the author: Janie Laubscher was directly involved in the Social Security disability claims process throughout her 25-year career with the Social Security Administration. As a Claims Representative, she helped applicants complete their applications for SSDI benefits, and as a manager, she oversaw the entire disability process in her offices. She also worked as a disability determination specialist for the agency in her state that makes disability decisions for Social Security. In that position, she made the disability decision on initial SSDI claims.
