For many people applying for social security disability payments, there is a lot of work to be done with a calendar. Payment dates, application dates, and onset dates are just a few of the factors to consider. As you plan to file for social security disability, the initial payments that you will receive depend heavily on the alleged onset date. Also known as the AOD, this is the date from which your disability began and when you should have been eligible for payments. During the application process, the SSA can use details to determine their own date. A date change can end up costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. If this is the case, then there are multiple ways that you can help prove your original date. By using the assistance of a lawyer, this process can move forward faster and you can get the payments that you deserve.
Medical Appointments
Doctors and medical exams are usually one of the more ideal proof factors when it comes to determining your AOD. If the date has been set later than you expected, then you can use medical appointments and doctor statements as proof of your disability. For example, doctor reports may indicate the injuries and ailments that result in your disability. A lawyer can even conduct a new interview with medical professionals to detail more information about your disability and the actual onset date. By using this proof, you can try to change your onset date and get back pay for this time. The payment that you receive does not begin until five months after your onset date, so it's important to have the earliest day possible for your AOD.
In some cases, the SSA may determine the onset date as a medical appointment you had after initial treatment. Before a doctor's visit, you may have had to go to an emergency room or a walk-in clinic to get treated for injuries and ailments. These visits may have been overlooked through your initial filing. If this is the case, then a lawyer can use evidence of those visits to help you change the AOD.
Incident Reports
Along with medical evidence, you can also use incident reports to show the AOD for your case. For example, if you were injured at work, the incident report used at work can represent your onset date. This evidence can be especially compelling if you did not return to work or participate in any physical activities due to the injuries. Incident reports may also be available if you were injured somewhere other than work. For example, you may have been injured in a car accident or through a slip and fall incident. If this is the case, then you can use police reports to showcase the onset of your injuries. A lawyer can help gather the reports and use them as key pieces of evidence through your filing.
Paperwork Details
A huge part of filing for paperwork is ensuring that all of the details are correct. Along with delays, missing or wrong parts of paperwork filings could lead to the wrong AOD in the first place. A lawyer has the experience and knowledge to look over all of the details within your application. They can recognize whether your AOD is accurately represented and ensure that your appeal papers are properly filled out if you are contesting the AOD charges. Evidence and case details can be neatly organized, and the appeals will be sent in to the proper address within the correct amount of time. By using the services of a lawyer, you can get the payments that you deserve and ensure that your disability is fully covered from the time when it was supposed to start.
A consultation with a lawyer is the first step in moving forward with the process, so meet with a lawyer in your area, such as those at The Nelson Law Firm LLC. Having professional help can make a big difference on your payment outcomes.
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