| We live in a giant, seething bureaucracy. This is not | | | | the government is looking for a great deal of specific |
| necessarily anyone;s fault, it is just the byproduct of an | | | | information. Do not make the mistake of thinking that |
| extremely complicated society. However this means | | | | just because you have a legitimate claim you will be |
| that any sort of legal proceedings, and certainly those | | | | rewarded by the legal system. In case you haven't |
| involving the government, can take a long time. The | | | | noticed our legal system does not always get it right. |
| following are some tips for your SSD case. | | | | You are rewarded not by what you feel you deserve, |
| 1. Stick with it. | | | | but by what you can prove in the eyes of the law. |
| If you are filing a claim than you must believe in the | | | | 4. Put Your Ego Aside. |
| validity of that claim. Don't let the time delays or | | | | This is a situation in which you are asking for the |
| mounds of paperwork dissuade you from receiving | | | | government to fulfill its obligation to you and provide |
| what is legally yours. Stay focused and positive. | | | | you with the aid and services that you deserve. Social |
| 2. Meet your deadlines. | | | | Security Disability is not a handout and it is not charity. |
| I know that your life is complicated, and I know that the | | | | Stop thinking that you are somehow mooching off of |
| entire process seems designed to confuse and | | | | the system or that you don't really need it for |
| dissuade you. It is not meant to prevent legitimate | | | | whatever reason. You and your family have paid into |
| claims from making it in, but it is designed to weed out | | | | the system for a reason. |
| the lazy and the uninformed. | | | | Further, don't under-represent the extent of your injury. |
| 3. Knowledge. | | | | This does not make you tough or a hardworker, it just |
| Even though 75% of first time applicants are denied, | | | | makes you foolish and stubborn. There are no do |
| many people still believe that the entire process is | | | | overs in the legal world, and once you establish a |
| bases upon filling out a few simple forms and then | | | | certain level of disability, it is very difficult to start the |
| cashing in at the bank. However, this is just not the | | | | process over again and prove a different level of |
| case. Like any process in modern legal proceedings | | | | impairment or injury. |