Shovel In The Trunk Chat

Here are some tips to help anyone in the US looking into getting on disability:

Right now if you are an adult in America I want you to go and create an SSA account at SSA.gov. This will be so helpful in the application process and for tracking your eligibility.

There are two types of disability you can qualify for in America. There’s the type that is needs based where they will require you to prove you can’t work and need the money (SSI) and then there’s the type you can “earn” by working long enough and earning enough credits (SSDI).

Both types require that you prove you have a disability that affects your ability to work for a year or more. (earning gross income less than the Substantial Gainful Activity amount for the year- for 2026 this amount is $1,690/month or $2,830/month if you are blind).

Also, all of the paperwork will make it sound like you can’t work at all while your application is processing- this is false. You can work but if you work enough to make above the SGA amount monthly they will consider you able bodied “enough” to support yourself regardless of what any doctors say.

For SSDI, you must have worked 5 out of the past 10 years but some exceptions may apply if you’re under the age of 24. This does not mean working full time btw! You can have worked only part time during those years and it will still count so be sure to check your SSA account to see if you have worked enough!

Filling out the paperwork: I cannot stress enough that you need to answer questions based on your WORST days not your best. When it asks something like “do you need help walking?” You answer that based on your worst day. If you can’t get out of bed on your worst days then that is what they want to know. If you answer these questions based on what you can do on a good day you won’t get approved.

The Social Security Administration IS NOT IN CHARGE OF DISABILITY DECISIONS. So before you go getting angry at a Claims Representative or a Customer Service Representative at SSA, they have no control whatsoever in the approval process. Most of them genuinely want to help you too so be nice!! All they do is put your information into a system that will 1) determine if you meet eligibility as far as income amounts for SSI or work amount for SSDI 2) if the system says you are eligible to apply, your claims rep will contact you to get any additional information needed then the application will then be sent to the Disability Decision Board. The DDS is the one who will more than likely deny your claim the first time you submit it no matter how much evidence you have to support your disability claim. It can take years to get approved. Unfortunately, the people at DDS who answer the phone are also not the ones at DDS making the decisions. You will never get to talk to the person at DDS who is deciding your case. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t call DDS though if you can get their number and ask them about the status of your application! (DDS is notoriously hard to get the number of the office you’ve been assigned to. You can ask your SSA Claims Rep for it but they are not obligated to give you the number though they’ll sometimes give it out if you ask nicely!)

This brings me to the stages of disability decisions.

First, you need to see if you’re eligible through SSA’s website. If you are eligible for SSDI your application will submit for both SSDI and SSI. I would suggest that you print a copy of your application for your records if you submit online or ask for a copy if you apply in person (they used to allow appointments to be made to do this with a SSA employee but since DOGE started cutting down the SSA’s budget, staffing, and offices, I’m not sure if they still offer this or not).

Keep track of the progress of your application through your online account or call your local SSA office and ask who is the Claims Rep over your case. Get their direct line number so you can call and check in every month.

Submit documents that they ask for as quickly as possible! Some of these can be found in your online account and some will be ones you have to mail/take to your local office. Some suggested documents you’ll need to provide are: Government issued ID, Contact Information for your Doctors and Specialists, Contact information for past and current employer(s), test results pertaining to your disability/disabilities (please list all your conditions and update your application with any new conditions you develop), current medication list, bills and household income amounts (for SSI applicants). The most important form is the form that allows SSA and DDS to talk to your doctors!! Be sure to ask for this form if it doesn’t come in your disability packet you’ll receive in the mail after your initial application! If they do not have this form they can’t talk to any of your medical contacts or request any of your medical records to confirm your disability!

Once your application reaches DDS, it will likely stay there for a while. Be sure to call in and check on the status either with your local SSA office talking to your assigned Claims Rep or calling the DDS office your case was assigned to directly. Don’t be surprised if your application is denied the first or even second time. Remember that the system is designed to make you want to give up!

If you get a denial, don’t quit! File an appeal! You can do this online or through your local SSA office. The first time you can request a reconsideration which means they have to reopen the application and send it back to DDS. If you have any new medical information to provide, do it during this time!

If you get denied again, you can appeal again! You can request a hearing with a judge this time!

If the hearing results in another denial, appeal again! Request a review through the Appeals Council!

If that doesn’t work, you can file a federal district court action with the District Court.

Now I know you’re looking at this giant block of text and you’re feeling overwhelmed. I do have some good news about this- you are owed backpay for every single month from the time you apply until your approval date. You heard that right! From the day YOU APPLY! Not the day you’re approved. The date you submitted or at least began an inquiry/initial submission with SSA. Because of this, you can often find lawyers who will help you get your application approved and they’ll just take some of the backpay you’re owed. They don’t get paid until you do so you know they have the incentive to make sure you get paid as quickly as possible! You do not have to do this! It’s just an option for anyone who is struggling and wants the help with the very drawn out process that is applying for disability in America and trying to get it quicker. Lawyers know all about this process and you can let them do the heavy lifting while you focus on all the other issues that come with being disabled.

As a final note, when you’re approved for disability payments, you’ll qualify for Medicare within a certain time frame after the determined date of disability onset. This is usually 2 years after the date you became entitled to disability. This date is set by SSA so you’ll have to inquire when your Medicare start date will be when you are applying. In the meantime, do some research on Medicare to see what kind of coverage you’ll need to select when you become eligible! Also check into what state benefits you could utilize while you wait for your disability decision!

I wish all who have to deal with this good luck and DO NOT GIVE UP!!