I am asked this question on a regular basis: Should I apply for Social Security disability benefits?
People who unable to work and are thinking about filing a claim for disability benefits will often contact me. They don't know how the Social Security system works, and perhaps they have heard some horror stories about the disability claim process. So they call me.
I enjoy these conversations, because they are very helpful to the people who call. We talk for a while, and I ask the caller some questions. A typical conversation goes something like this:
Are you working now? No.
When was the last time you worked? June of 2008.
What is keeping you from working now? The caller describes his or her impairments.
Are you being treated by a doctor? Yes. We talk more about the doctor(s).
What kind of work did you used to do? The caller tells me, and we talk about the types of work he or she has done in the last 15 years, and whether the person ever had a "desk" job.
How old are you? The caller tells me.
For callers under age 50, I describe the requirements of sedentary work. Could you do a sedentary job? I don't think so.
At this point, depending upon our conversation, I have usually learned enough to evaluate the claim under Social Security's sequential evaluation process. I often tell the caller: You should apply for disability benefits.
We then discuss the different ways to apply for disability benefits (in person, by telephone or online), and what to expect from the Maine Social Security claim process or the New Hamsphire Social Security claim process (they are actually different).
If you live in Maine or New Hampshire, I would be happy to have this conversation with you. You can call me, or you can complete the free evaluation form, and I will call you.
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