SSDI Benefits: Why Was My Claim Denied?

Posted on October 7, 2013

You cannot work and you are convinced that your disability warrants Social Security disability insurance benefits. But, then your claim is denied. Why? Here are just some of the reasons that a SSDI claim may be denied:

1. Your disability will not last at least 12 months.
When the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at your claim, they will determine if your disability is going to last at least 12 months. Say, you suffered a bone fracture in an automobile accident. While these injuries can be painful and debilitating, they usually won’t affect an injured person’s ability to work for a full year. There are exceptions to this rule, however, in the case of accidents where more severe injuries have occurred.

2. You refuse to cooperate.
Since your medical records are essential for the SSA to determine your eligibility for benefits, it is extremely important that you release those records to them. In some cases the SSA will request that you participate in a consultative examination (CE) with one of its own doctors. If you refuse to participate in a CE, your claim could be denied.

3. Your disability is related to drug or alcohol addiction.
If drug or alcohol addiction is a factor in your disability, your claim will be denied — unless a medical examiner determines that you would still be disabled even if you were to stop using drugs or alcohol.

4. You fail to follow prescribed therapy.
This isn’t always a deal breaker, but if you don’t follow a doctor’s prescribed therapy and you have the ability to do so, your disability claim can be denied. Of course, there are exceptions to this, especially if a claimant has a severe mental illness that makes it impossible for him or her to follow a prescribed therapy or if he or she can’t physically comply with a therapeutic regimen without assistance.

These are just some of the reasons why your SSDI claim could be denied. If you want to learn more about what to expect if you are going to make a claim for benefits, contact the Social Security disability benefits attorneys at Farah & Farah in St. Augustine. We understand what you are facing and have dedicated attorneys who will guide you through the process so you can get the benefits you are entitled to receive.