ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

HOW DO I APPLY?

Updated on: February 27th, 2023

You can apply online at the SSA’s website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability/. When applying online, only you can apply for yourself. No one else can apply for you.

You can also apply by phone. You need to first call the Social Security’s toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday between 7 AM and 7 PM to schedule an appointment to apply over the telephone.

Lastly, you can also apply in person. Find the Social Security Office nearest you using the Office Locator at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp and call to set up an appointment.

Before you apply, be prepared with the following documentation:

  • Social Security number
  • Birth certificate or other proof of age 50page50image3609574144
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the U.S.
  • Most recent W-2 form, or federal tax return if self-employed
  • Military discharge papers if you had military service
  • Summary of where you worked and the kind of work you did for the last 15

    years

  • Names and dosages of all the medicines you take
  • Names, address, and phone numbers of hospitals, clinics, doctors, and

    other health workers who treated you and dates of treatment

  • Medical records that you have in your possession
  • Laboratory and test results
  • Name of your bank and account number, if you want benefits deposited

    directly into your bank account

    If you are applying for family members, you should also have their birth certificates and Social Security numbers, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status, and, for your spouse, a marriage certificate.

    The most helpful proof of your disability is medical records, particularly any records related to treatment you received for your disability. Even if you don’t like or don’t want to see doctors, it is always important to get the most treatment that you can. Even if your condition is genuine, you will not be able to get very far in the application process without documentation and treatment. It is also helpful to have evidence from former employers that state that you tried to do your job but were unable to because of your disability.

    If you have difficulties with substance abuse, you should try to get clean and look for treatment to increase your chances of obtaining SSDI benefits. If it is found that your substance abuse is the reason that you are disabled and can’t work, you will be denied SSDI benefits. If you have a history of substance abuse, the best way to get benefits is to be clean for a certain period of time.

    For all the documents, you must provide originals or certified copies. You can mail or bring these documents to the Social Security office. Though the office will make copies and return the originals, it is always a good idea to make copies yourself of important documents before handing over the originals.

If you are unable to find any of the necessary documents, begin the application process anyway and work with Social Security to get the rest of the documents that you need. Don’t delay applying because you don’t have all of your documents.

If you need help applying in other languages, you can go online to Social Security’s Multilanguage Gateway athttp://www.ssa.gov/multilanguage/index.htm to see the publications that are available. You can also call Social Security’s toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 and press “2” for Spanish and “1” for all other languages to be connected to an interpreter. Social Security can also arrange to have an interpreter come to your local office for your appointment.

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