The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Blue Book lists many types of conditions that disability benefits cover. Therefore, if you thought that you met the criteria for a specific listing, it can be confusing and frustrating if you are denied the benefits you need. There are many reasons why a claim may be denied, and it’s worthwhile to take the time to figure out why yours was denied and what you can do about it whenever you apply in Vancouver, Washington.

Why was I denied?

There are several possible reasons that people are denied benefits when they make a claim, but one of the most common is that there wasn’t enough supporting evidence to show that they had the medical condition that they claimed to have. But you also must make sure that you have the medical evidence showing how long you’ve had the condition, to what extent it affects your daily life, and what treatments you and your doctor have already tried to alleviate the condition. Each medical listing must be followed to the letter, so you need to work closely with your attorney and doctor to maximize the likelihood of your claim being successful.

What to do if you’re denied

If your claim is denied, and you believe it was in error, there are several methods you can use to make an appeal, including asking for a reconsideration, a hearing with an administrative law judge, a review with the Appeals Council or a Federal Court review. There are criteria for determining which process you should choose, and you have 60 days from when the denial was sent to you to make the appeal.

How to get legal assistance

If you ever find that you need help putting together the correct information for a claim or figuring out the appeals process, you may want to consult a lawyer with experience in Social Security Disability and appeals. He or she can guide you through every step of the process.