Going through a Social Security disability claim can be a confusing proposition. Not only does the process take a long time (the better part of two years) for most people, but the process is complex and full of technical terms that are unknown to the general public. Below are just a few of the terms Social Security uses during a disability claim. Understanding these terms can help you better navigate the Social Security disability process.
- Activities of Daily Living: These are a set of questionnaires that are sent to a disability applicant so the disability determination agency can get a better understanding of how alleged disabilities impact an applicant on a daily basis. Common ADLs include work history, function and third party function reports. These questionnaires must be completed by the applicant. If they are not completed there is a very good chance a claim can be denied for failing to comply.
- Alleged Onset Date: This is the date in which a Social Security disability applicant claims to first be disabled. Most times this date would be consistent with when the applicant became unable work at a fulltime level, or at least changed their work activity in some way due to disability.
- Appeal Deadline: This the Social Security imposed deadline in which a Social Security applicant has to appeal a medical denial issued on a claim. The deadline to appeal a denial is 60 days from the date issued on the denial letter, but Social Security allows up to 65 days for an appeal to be filed due to the fact that an extra five days is included for mailing time.
- Backpay: When Social Security agrees that an applicant is disabled most times that disabled person is eligible for backpay. The backpay is the amount of money a disabled person is owed from the time they are found disabled by Social Security to the present date. The monthly disability amount is calculated over the months during a disabled person was due to receive payments and that amount is issued as a lump sum for backpay.
