Qualifying for benefits

• Before you apply for benefits, you should make sure that you qualify. According to a Social Security Administration Vital Statistics Report, there is a 3-in-10 chance a 20-year-old will become disabled before he or she meets the age of retirement. There are income guidelines that must be met. Your injury must interfere with your work; if they do not, you will be denied. You can check out the list of disabilities that the SSA recognizes at www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/listing-impairments.htm.If you currently earn over $980 a month, you will be denied.
  
  

Get a Lawyer

• The most important thing to do to increase your chances of getting your disability claim approved is getting a lawyer. Having a lawyer at the very beginning will insure that you will be following the steps in the order they are to be followed. You will also want to get copies of all the medical records that would pertain to your disability. If you supply the SSDI with all the required documents, this will prevent you from being denied for insufficient evidence.
  
  

Be on Time

• Be on time, be accurate and be prepared. These three things can increase your chances of being approved. If you have a qualifying condition, be persistent and cover your bases.
  
  Make sure you keep on top of all correspondence you may receive about your disability. Many items they request from you will be time sensitive. If they are not turned in when they are supposed to be, that can be a reason for denial. If you are denied the first time, do not be disappointed--you can file an appeal and once again go through the process of obtaining SSDI.
  
  

Waiting on Approval

• The entire process usually takes between 60 and 90 days but can be longer depending on whether you have a lawyer and how much information must be introduced. This information does not guarantee you will get disability payments but it is an attempt to help you be approved on your first or second try at submitting your claim.