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How long will social security continue to review my mental illness condition?

How long will social security continue to review my mental illness condition?

At Sharon Christie Law, a Baltimore Social Security Disability Law Firm, we are often asked the question, How long will social security continue to review my mental illness condition? In this video, Sharon Christie examines this question and provides you with the answer.

Official Transcript: How long will social security continue to review my mental illness condition?

Hi I’m Sharon Christie your nurse attorney for Social Security disability benefits. Someone has asked me how long will Social Security take to review my case. My case is based on mental health problems. Well, the review process is no different for mental health problems or physical problems. So, the steps that Social Security goes through are basically three. 

At the initial stage once you’ve filed your application the case goes to another department called Social Disability Determination Services and that’s where the case gets processed. It’s reviewed by medical doctors who work for Social Security and a decision is made. That process generally takes about six months. In most cases the answer is no, so the next step is to file an appeal. The first appeal is called the request for reconsideration, that’s really asking for a second opinion so the case will go back to Disability Determination Services but it will be assigned to a whole new group of people for review. Different doctors will take a look at it, they’ll go through the same basic process as at the initial stage but it’s a whole new group of people and they will look at any additional evidence that comes into the file. That part of the process usually takes about another six months. 

If the case is approved, at that point then you’re finished. If the case is denied however, then you have to file another appeal. Now the next appeal is a request for a hearing and that’s when you get to actually talk to a judge about the problems that you have and why you’re not able to work. The judge is in the best position of anybody to award you disability benefits because he or she will have all of the medical evidence that submitted throughout the entire case, but can also talk directly to you about the problems that you have because of your health conditions. How those problems limit you and your day-to-day activities and how they limit you in your ability to work. So, the judge is in the best position of anybody to say yes, but it generally takes a while to get a hearing date with the judge. 

Currently it’s about 12 months from the time that you ask for the hearing. So altogether it can take about two years from the time that you file your application until you’re actually having a hearing with the judge. Beyond the judge there are appeal levels if the judge says no but the basic timeline is about two years. 

The Path to Social Security Disability Benefits with Sharon Christie Law

Step 1: Understanding Social Security’s Definition of Disabled

The definition of disabled, according to Social Security, is that you have severe limitations from your health problems that keep you from doing any kind of work for at least 12 consecutive months. This is the first thing we look at when evaluating your case. Your diagnosis is just the starting point. To get disability benefits for you, we must prove that your disabling condition causes severe limitations in your day to day activities.

Step 2: Medical Records in Your Disability Case

You must have medical evidence to prove your disability case. The most important evidence is your medical records that show your diagnosis, your symptoms, and your response to treatment.

Step 3: Don’t go it alone: How Sharon Christie Law Can Help You

At Sharon Christie Law, a Social Security Disability Law Firm, we recognize that no one ever plans to get so sick that they have to stop working. When you need to apply for Social Security Disability Benefits we recognize that you will be anxious about the process and whether you can qualify for disability benefits. Our goal at Sharon Christie Law is to help you win your case and give you the financial stability you need! Why work with us?

We do it all for you: At Sharon Christie Law we handle all aspects of the case for you, from preparing and filing your application through the hearing with a judge. We are with you every step of the way.  When working with us, you focus on feeling better, and we focus on winning your case.

We return your phone calls: We understand that you have many questions regarding Social Security Disability Benefits. We never want you to wonder what is happening with your case. We are here to answer your questions. All phone calls and emails are returned within 24 hours. That is our promise to you.

We believe in client education: The Social Security Disability process is confusing. We think it is important that you understand each step in the process. So, we created a section on our website that is accessible only to clients. This client’s only section tells you everything you need to know about the disability process.