For many people in California, the Social Security Disability application process can be a lengthy and arduous ordeal. Many deserving claimants are denied when they first seek disability benefits. While some people give up on their claim after an initial rejection, moving forward with an appeal can provide a better chance for success. There are two initial appeals in the disability benefits process, and people have a much higher probability of success with the second stage appeal than with the initial reconsideration appeal. However, moving through the reconsideration process is necessary in order to obtain a disability hearing.
How work activity can affect a disability benefits application
People in California who are unable to work because of their disabilities may apply for Social Security Disability benefits. However, in order for people to receive benefits, they must be assessed as having significant limitations that prevent them from engaging in work activities. The Social Security Administration determines if an applicant is sufficiently disabled to receive benefit by evaluating his or her current condition as well as work histories. A disability examiner - or, later, an administrative law judge - will give the applicant a residual functional capacity rating.
What to expect after filing for disability benefits
Individuals in California may ask for disability benefits if they have a mental or physical condition that prevents them from obtaining a gainful living. Generally speaking, applicants who have had their applications denied will hear back in a relatively short period of time. This is because they only have 65 days to file an appeal. Typically, it takes at least one appeal before an application is approved, and it is not uncommon to appeal twice before this happens.
Social Security Disability and hearing loss
Some California residents with hearing impairments may wonder if they qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. There is some information about hearing problems included in the Social Security Administration's blue book for assessing disability eligibility, but it may indicate little about whether a particular claimant is eligible for benefits. When a claim is made for disability benefits based on hearing loss or impairment, there are several criteria that the agency may use to determine whether a particular applicant is eligible.
