Disability Red Flag: Failure to Cooperate
There are many people who are denied Social Security benefits simply because they fail to cooperate with Social Security. This is a very easy red flag to avoid and highlights why it is so important to follow-up on your disability claim.
What does it mean to “fail to cooperate”?
Social Security has strict rules and guidelines that must be met to be found disabled. Failing to cooperate means failing to follow Social Security’s rules, requests, and guidelines in a timely fashion, or at all.
How does will this impact my case?
It will delay the processing of your case. Social Security will have to wait longer to move forward with the case. They will also have to spend more time following-up with you.
More importantly, it often results in a denial.
How can you fail to cooperate?
You do not complete the full application. The Social Security Disability and the Supplemental Security Income applications are made up of two separate forms:
- Application for Disability Insurance Benefits or Application Supplemental Security Income, AND
- Adult Disability Report
You do not complete AND return all the forms that Social Security sends to gather additional information about your claim. Social Security always sends additional claim forms that need to be completed, some examples include:
- SSA 821 – Work Activity Report
- SSA 3369 – Work History Report
- SSA 3373 – Adult Function Report
You refuse to release medical records to Social Security.
You do not attend the Social Security medical exam if one has been scheduled.
You do not provide a way for Social Security to contact you, including an up-to-date address and phone number. In this circumstance, it is possible to get approved for Social Security benefits, but you would never know. Do not take that chance.
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If you have questions, you can always Ask Allison!
