Knowing that the majority of Social Security disability claims can take the better part of two years before they are ultimately resolved can create a financial crisis for those applying. Those who apply for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are claiming that they can’t work on a full-time basis. As claims can take upwards of two years (or more), being without an income can put great stress on a claimant’s finances.
One way claimants who are experiencing severe financial stress can speed up the process is to ask Social Security to expedite their claims. Social Security will consider moving claimants to the front of the hearing schedule if they can prove they have an inability to provide housing, food or medicine for themselves.
If a claimant can prove the inability to provide any of these three things, they can possibly speed up the process in which their hearing would be scheduled. Remember, Social Security only considers individuals in dire financial need as candidates for the expedited process.
To prove such a dire need claimants must provide supporting documentation such as a foreclosure notice, an eviction notice or proof they are unable to obtain food stamps or assistance with medication coverage.
A new wrinkle has recently been implemented by Social Security, as it has begun to require claimants to exhaust all other resources in obtaining housing, food and/or medical coverage prior to asking a claim be expedited. This requires that the claimant request emergency housing assistance, medical coverage and food stamps at the county or state level prior to requesting that Social Security expedite a claim. If the claimant is turned down for these requests at the county or state level, Social Security will be more willing to expedite his or her claim.
Remember, the Social Security Administration does not take the request to expedite lightly as many applicants for Social Security disability are facing financial difficulties. Additionally, there are thousands of claimants who are waiting for their hearings, meaning a claimant must have a very good reason or reasons to jump to the head of the line. For example, the Social Security hearing office in Minneapolis has approximately 9,000 claimants currently waiting for hearings at any given time and only expedites hearings for claimants that can prove they lack the ability provide basic needs.
It is important for claimants to take advantage of all available options, including county or state assistance, before requesting their claims be expedited. If you are in need of representation on your claim, contact the Social Security disability attorneys at Greeman Toomey PLLC at 1-877-332-3252.
