Trying to get Social Security Disability can be incredibly frustrating at times.
The tide is turning against people who have filed claims in the last few years.
From 1999 to 2003 disability applications ranged from 1.2 million to 1.8 million.
After 2004 disability applications shot up to over 2 million to a high of 2.9 million applications.
Awards on the applications dropped from 51 percent in 1999 to around 33 percent in 2013.
What all this means for people trying to get Social Security Disability is that it is getting harder and harder to win.
The people at Social Security office who are reviewing the applications are taking longer because there are more cases and not enough workers to keep up. So they do not have time to review cases as thoroughly. If you are denied make sure that you appeal because they may have missed something.
If you are denied and appeal, then you may ultimately end up in a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Approval ratings from judges have also dropped over the years.
Congress and the Media have been looking at the Social Security Disability program closely over the last few years and this has resulted in more cases being denied.
This makes it all the more important to be prepared to explain to the Judge why you cannot work.
This means telling the doctor at each visit your problems and how it bothers your activities of daily living such as sitting, standing, lifting and walking, and how it interferes with your concentration, or using your hands and arms.
You also need to be ready for the questions the Judge will ask you and know what to expect from the Vocational Consultant.
Questions about your disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.