Top 5 Reasons People Get Denied Social Security Disability Insurance

Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a lengthy and often nerve wrecking process. More often than not, Americans filing claims each year get denied on the first attempt. In fact  65% of Americans Nationwide are denied on their first application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) with the Social Security Administration (SSA). This high denial rate is due to both medical and non-medical factors that contenders overlook during the application process. Therefore, understanding the most common reasons for denial can help applicants better prepare their case and improve their chances of approval.

There are several common reasons why the SSA will reject an application for disability benefits. We outline the top 5 reasons why social security disability claims are denied below:

1. Lack of Medical Evidence. Easily the most common reason for denial is insufficient medical documentation. The SSA requires very comprehensive medical evidencefrom doctors, hospitals, and any specialists to confirm the severity of your condition. If medical records are incomplete, outdated, or fail to show how the disability prevents you from working, the claim will likely be denied.
2. Failure to Follow Prescribed Treatment. If you’re not following your doctor’s recommended treatments, therapies, or medications, the SSA usually determines that your disability is not as severe as claimed or that improvement is possible. Non-compliance suggests your condition isn’t debilitating. Exceptions exist if you have a valid reason for not following treatment (such as documented treatment modifications, financial hardship or medical contraindications).
3. Too Much Income Earned. The Social Security Administration considers monthly income limits when determining eligibility for disability benefits. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is the limit in which is any activity you do for significant monetary gain. Each year the SGA changes, so if you are still working and making more than the annual limit, your claim will be denied regardless of your medical condition.
4. Shortage of Work Credits. SSDI requires applicants to have worked and paid into Social Security taxes long enough to qualify. If you lack sufficient work credits based on your age and work history, your application will be denied. Typically, this needs to be 40 credits total with 20 credits in the past 10 years. In such cases, SSI may be an alternative option. Work history is crucial.
5. Application Errors or Incomplete. There are strict deadlines and extensive paperwork the SSA outlines. Missing forms, incomplete medical history, inconsistent data, failing to respond to SSA requests can result in denial. Even small clerical mistakes can delay or harm your application. Technical errors can account for 30% of initial claim denials.

Denied applicants have 60 days from receiving their rejection notice to file an appeal. The odds of getting your disability claim approved won’t progress if you continue to make new applications rather than filing for an appeal. This is when hiring a Social Security Disability attorney, like Lowery Law Group will save you the frustration.  Disability lawyers know every form that needs to be filled out, the proper medical evidence to present, and all the rules and regulations to get your application to approval status.

Contact Lowery Law Group at info@lowerylegal.com or call (843) 991-0733. There is no fee for a free consultation regarding your claim. Lowery Law Group is experienced in handling cases in South Carolina as well as Georgia.