You used to be able to walk into a Social Security office and apply for disability.
They do not want you to do it that way any more.
The new way is to apply for disability online.
Social Security says that it is easier online.
For them it is easier most likely.
For most people it is frustrating because they do not have the experience of going through the questions repeatedly.
The online application for disability is in 2 parts.
The first part deals with your background information such as date of birth, marriages ten years or longer, minor children, and disabled children.
The second part deals with conditions, medications, hospitals you have visited, doctors you treat with.
You will need addresses, telephone numbers, approximate dates you first visited each doctor and dates of your latest visits.
Social Security wants to know your past work history for the last 15 years.
This includes employers, addresses, job duties, and amounts you have been paid in the last 2 years.
The idea is that Social Security will gather your medical records and send them off to Springfield, Illinois for review.
The review takes about 3 months.
Social Security will usually call you within a week after you file online to confirm your information.
They also want you to appeal online if you have been denied.
The only type cases that do not allow an online application at this time are SSI adult and children’s cases, and cases when you are receiving retirement and you want to file for disability also.
Need help filing online? Yes, I help people file online. Please feel free to call Illinois Social Security Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.