Social Security Disability Insurance

Edward Swierczek, senior claimant representative at Allsup, a leading nationwide provider of financial and healthcare related services to people with disabilities, provides answers to commonly asked questions about Social Security Disability Insurance.

Q. We often hear from fibromyalgia patients who have been denied Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or that it takes several years for them to receive any type of payment. Why are so many people with fibromyalgia being turned-down for SSDI benefits?

A. SSDI applicants with fibromyalgia may be denied for many reasons, which can include:

• There is no ongoing treatment.
• The diagnosis is not supported by their doctors.
• There is no definitive medical test that corroborates fibromyalgia.

Q. Why does it often take several years before disability benefits are awarded?
A. Today, more than 765,000 people are waiting for a decision on their disability application at just the hearing level (second appeal). This means they may have already been waiting for six months to a year. Many applicants wait two to four years for approval.
 
There are a number of factors in the long wait—the aging baby boomers are hitting prime years for a disability (about 50 years old) so they are applying for SSDI in record numbers. Social Security Administration’s staff is shrinking, and there are fewer people to process the growing workload. In addition, cases and medical records are becoming more complicated and time-consuming to prepare and evaluate.

Q. Your website says that only about 35 percent of initial applications are approved. What are a couple of things people can do to improve their chances in obtaining approval during the initial application phase?
A. It’s true that it is more difficult to have disability benefits approved at the initial application level. One of the most important steps applicants can take is to provide complete, comprehensive information with their application. This includes comprehensive work history and medical records. In addition, it’s important to understand the factors in SSDI eligibility. For example, you must meet SSA’s definition of disability.
 
Getting representation can be the most important step toward improving your chances. For example, in comparison to the SSA’s 35 percent rate, Allsup has a 53 percent approval rate at the initial application level. Another very important factor at the initial level is to have the support of your doctor(s). Thus, an individual is encouraged to speak with his/her doctor to determine if he/she has his/her support.
 

Q. What type of trends have you seen over the years with fibromyalgia-related claims?  
A. It appears, anecdotally speaking, that we are seeing more fibromyalgia claims. With the increase in these claims, it appears that we are achieving more success as time goes on. The reason for the preceding, in my opinion, is that more physicians are getting a better understanding of this disease process and have become “educated” on the reality of fibromyalgia, that is, it does exist and many people suffer with it.

Q. How can your organization help people to get SSDI benefits?
A. When people choose Allsup, they find expert help to handle the process from beginning to end—with the very first pages of the application through the next levels of the process, if needed, including filing appeals and the hearing.
 
Allsup has a 97 percent award rate, which means we can increase people’s chance for success and typically reduce the time they have to wait to get their award. We often cite our team’s extensive expertise and the experience of our representatives, many of whom formerly worked at the Social Security Administration and state Disability Determination Services. Our representatives have firsthand knowledge about the process. Another positive is that eight out of 10 Allsup customers who get their disability awards never need to visit an SSA office.
 
For additional information on Allsup and disability, including a free online SSDI evaluation, visit http://www.allsup.com/.