Disability starter kit makes applying for benefits easier
By CINDY G. MCCUBBINS Social Security District Manager in Gainesville GA

Albert Einstein once said, "Everything should be made as simple as possible ...." That wisdom is certainly something with which most of us nongeniuses would agree.

Applying for Social Security disability benefits involves both government regulations and medical evidence. In order to make the application process easier to understand and navigate, Social Security has created a "Disability Starter Kit" that will help people get ready for a disability interview or online application.

The starter kit provides information about the specific documents and the information that we will ask for. The kit also provides general information about the disability programs and our decision-making process that can help take some of the mystery out of applying for disability benefits.

Each Disability Starter Kit contains:

A fact sheet that answers common questions about applying for disability benefits; a checklist of documents and information we will ask you for; and a worksheet to help you gather and organize the information you will need.

The fact sheet provides the legal definition of "disability" and explains how Social Security decides if a person's condition is severe enough to meet the eligibility criteria. It also gives tips on steps an individual can take to speed up the decision-making process.

The checklist provides a list of the information we need for most disability claims. That includes documents such as a birth certificate, latest W-2 form and military discharge papers, and information such as the names and addresses of all the doctors and other health professionals who have treated the applicant.

The worksheet gives examples of important questions we ask during the disability application interview, such as a description of impairment(s) and the date that the individual became disabled. It also asks for a list of the medications taken and the medical tests conducted, and requests information about jobs the applicant has held.

Whenever someone requests an appointment to file for Social Security disability benefits, we will send him or her a copy of the "Disability Starter Kit." Or website visitors can find the kit online at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/ , or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY, 1-800-325-0778) and ask that a kit be mailed to them.