Ways to Apply for Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits

Before you apply for Social Security disability or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you may wish to discuss your application options with a Tennessee disability lawyer. The Social Security Administration (SSA) allows you to apply for benefits over the telephone, over the Internet, or in person at your local Social Security office.

Schedule a telephone appointment in advance by calling 1-800-772-1213. The SSA representative will schedule a date and window of time during which someone will call back to take your information for Social Security disability or SSI benefits. After your telephone appointment, you will receive a completed application in the mail for you to sign.

If you prefer to fill out your Disability Report and application in person, schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-772-1213. You will receive a date and time at which you should appear at the local office. The SSA representative will also direct you to the correct location and give you a list of paperwork which you should bring to your appointment. A Tennessee disability lawyer will be able to further explain what to expect.

You may also choose to apply for benefits through the SSA website at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability/. However, you may only use the online application for Social Security disability. To apply for SSI benefits, you may use the website to complete your Adult Disability and Work History Report, which is a supporting document for your application, but you must finish the process over the telephone or in person at a local office.

Regardless of your chosen application method, you will need to give the SSA as much information as possible. A Tennessee disability lawyer can help with your preparation before you apply. You will need to describe your disability and explain how it prevents you from working. If you are an applicant under the age of 50, you should also show how your medical impairment limits your ability to hold jobs that you have performed in the past 15 years and also explain how it prevents you from taking any type of full-time job.