Mistakes People Make While Filing for Disability

Disability insurance helps people who can’t work due to non-work-related illnesses or injuries, pregnancy, or childbirth. Read about the mistakes people make while filing for disability and avoid these issues in your disability claims!

Failing To List All Impairments

Sometimes, claimants have multiple circumstances that contribute to their inability to work. However, some people only list their most severe conditions on the disability claim. You should list all physical and mental impairments related to your ability to work. Transparency is vital for short-term disability (SDI) claims.

Failing To Obtain Support or Treatment

Doctors examine your health condition, symptoms, and limitations and will conclude that certain impairments limit your ability to work. If your doctor doesn’t support your disability claim, the Employment Development Department (EDD) won’t accept your claim either.

Furthermore, you must agree to recommended treatment plans. Failure to follow doctor recommendations means that you’re “non-compliant.” Non-compliance affects your claim because it proves you’re not willing to receive treatment for severe impairments.

Working Full-Time

Don’t submit a disability claim while working full-time. With a job, this proves that you’re not losing wages. Thus, you disqualify for benefits. While seeking disability benefits, your employment situation may change. Impairments can reduce or stop work activity. Provide information regarding your work status. You want to prove how the impairment affects your employment.

Filing Back-to-Back Claims

A major mistake people make while filing for disability is filing back-to-back claims. If the EDD decides that your second claim arose from the same disability as the original claim, they can invalidate the new claim. Understandably, dealing with the EDD is frustrating and time-consuming. People assume filing a new claim gets them benefits faster. However, that’s not true. You don’t want to raise red flags and give the department a reason to dismiss your claim and deny benefits.

Not Receiving Legal Assistance

Obtaining disability insurance on your own is challenging. The EDD often denies qualifying Californians, leaving them without financial assistance. Having a lawyer by your side is the best thing to do! They have experience with SDI claims and will bring you closer to benefits.

Here at Pershing Square Law Firm, we’re the top disability lawyers in California. If the EDD denies your claims, you have the right to appeal. Let us advocate for you!