As many people will tell you, even if you have a great disability case, thousands of pages of medical records, and even go through a hearing that seems to go well, sometimes you still get denied.
In many cases, even we attorneys aren’t entirely sure why claimants who clearly cannot work keep getting denied.
In this situation, most claimants want to keep appealing, but that isn’t always the best course of action, or they exhaust their appeals within Social Security.
Some people will then attempt to go to work, or maybe they just need a break from the whole process. So, when is the right time to file a new disability application?
Of course, the first thing to remember is that you still need to be off work, or working part-time to even qualify for disability.
Most successful second applications are filed by individuals who receive a new diagnosis, or whose conditions have worsened. Getting documentation of this can often be key to showing Social Security that you qualify for benefits now. At the very least, it’s important to just keep getting medical treatment instead of relying on older records that SSA already used to deny you.
Another key consideration in reapplying is age. The way that Social Security works, it’s much easier to be approved once you turn 50 or 55.
If you were denied when you were younger, but recently reached one of these new age categories, that can dramatically increase your odds of being approved.
But each situation is different, so it’s best to consult with a disability attorney first if you’re considering filing a new disability application.
