"How To Win Your
Disability Claim!"
(Lesson 1 - Getting Started)

Dear

    Once you decide that you are disabled and not able to work, you need to know how to apply for disability benefits, ...and what you must prove to Social Security to win your case.

    To start, you really need to know what the Social Security Administration means by 'disabled'.   (And I'm sorry if any of this sounds harsh ... but you really need to know the facts in order to press your case successfully). 

    According to Social Security, you are disabled if you are unable to engage in 'substantial gainful activity' as the result of one or more medical conditions that has lasted or is expected to last 12 months ... or that may result in death.

    In plain English, this means that you are considered disabled if you cannot perform work because of a serious medical problem.

    Also, 'substantial gainful activity' means competitive work, school or "work-like activity", regardless of whether you are getting paid.

   Here's another way to think about disability.

   Imagine the easiest job that exists. Perhaps...

• a ticket taker a movie theatre

• a hand packer

• a surveillance system monitor

• a textile inspector on an underwear assembly line

• a parking lot attendant

     Each of these jobs can be performed sitting down most of the time, in non-pressured surroundings.

     Would you be able to perform this job 5 days a week, eight hours a day? It doesn't matter that you have never done this type of work before. It doesn't matter that this type of job would bore you. Nor does it matter that you cannot drive and could not get to a work site.

     The only question that matters to Social Security is this: If a simple job like the ones above were available to you, could you perform it on a full time basis?

     So, to WIN you Social Security Disability case, you need to provide evidence to them that you could not.

     Now, here are the three main things you'll need to remember while you're filling out your forms:

1. Social Security defines disability in terms of your ability to perform "work like activity", regardless of whether or not this activity is paid (or how much you get paid for it).

2. Your disability must be documented by medical records.

3. Social Security does NOT provide benefits for disabilities which last less than one year.

     Also, please remember that disability benefits are not like retirement benefits, which you get automatically when you reach age 65. To receive disability benefits, you must qualify for Social Security by meeting all the criteria above.

     This means that you will probably NOT win your case (1) unless you
have been treated by a doctor, (2) unless you know exactly what is
wrong with you, and (3) unless your condition will keep you from
performing a simple, sit down job.

     On the other hand, if you have a solid work history -- if your doctor
has diagnosed a specific medical condition -- and if your doctor supports your inability to work -- then you have a much better chance
of winning your case.

     Here's the bottom line: When you make the difficult decision to apply for Social Security disability (and this alone is a hard decision for many people) -- you will face the uphill task of proving that you have a medical problem serious enough to prevent you from performing any type of work.

     This means that every form you fill out -- and every communication you have with Social Security -- must be directed at proving that you cannot work. Thus, in a sense your diagnosis and the medical issues relating to your claim are less important than the specific work limitations that arise from your medical problems.

     Concentrate on the work limitations and you'll have an edge over 95% of other applicants.

     Conclusion: Now you understand what Social Security disability is really about. I urge you to keep this work capacity focus in mind as it has been my experience that you stand a much better chance at winning when you have the right approach from day one.

     The Disability Answer Guide is the comprehensive, step by step, Plain English instruction manual you need to help you apply for and win your case.  You'll discover real-life examples of over 100 pages of Social Security forms you'll be dealing with before, during, and after being processed through the disability system. 

     Each form is filled out with sample answers for you to copy and modify. If you are in pain or have trouble concentrating, this will save you time and stress and eliminate a lot of frustration.

 Sincerely,

Brian Therrien

PS - Be sure to put "Brian@TheDisabilityDigest.com" in your address 
book you don't miss ANY of these critical messages.

PSS.  To Learn If an Attorney can Help You Win Your Claim Click Here

PPS - Previous Lessons and Audio's Click Here