How to Get Disability Pay

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 30.6 million Americans between the ages of 21 and 64 were disabled. Of this number, 43 percent were unemployed, many because of the scope of their disability. If you have a physical or mental disability that keeps you from working, there are steps you can take to receive disability benefits from the Department of Social Security.

Things You'll Need

• Social Security number
• Birth or baptismal certificate
• Names, contact information of doctors and all medical facilities that assisted you
• Date of your visits to the doctor or medical facility
• List of all medications you take, including dosages
• All medical records from your doctor or medical facility that you presently have
• Laboratory and test results
• Description of your last workplace and your duties there
• Copy of your last W-2 tax form

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Instructions

Application Process

• 1

  Contact a Social Security office to ask that an application be taken for disability benefits. If possible, visit the office for this contact as it establishes your physical identification to the case workers.

• 2

  Make an appointment for either an in-office or telephone interview after the application request has been made. Prior to the appointment, gather all necessary information and paperwork that will be required for the interview. If do not have it all at your disposal, your case worker will help you get any paperwork that is missing.

• 3

  Have all required information with you at the time of the appointment. When the interview is completed, that information, as well as the results of the interview, will be sent to a state agency that will evaluate your disability claim and make a decision.

• 4

  Check with the disability examiner assigned to your file. This person will order medical records from all the treatment sources you provided during the interview. These records will help the examiner determine whether you will qualify for disability pay.