You can apply for your Social Security benefits by telephone. (If the process I'm describing here is overwhelming, we will help you: K Todd Butler PC, or call toll-free (855) 818-6974.)
I’ve noticed a lot of people who call about Social Security haven’t actually applied for benefits yet. If health problems are bad enough to keep you out of work for a year, you need to apply for your benefits right away.
It’s not difficult for most people. You don’t even have to go in person to the local office. You can even apply online, though I’ve found that for most people, a telephone call is easier. An online local office finder that will give you toll-free number. You just need your zip code. If you need help, call us and we’ll find it for you.
Your first call to Social Security will turn into a series of calls. Usually, in your first call, you set up an appointment for someone at Social Security to call you back and get additional information.
There are several types information you want to try to have available. And remember, the main thing here is to “try.” It will ultimately take a trained paralegal to get most of this information.
Initial information you want to have includes a list of all of your doctors, clinics and hospitals. Social Security’s Disability Starter Kit asks for any medical records you may have, but most people have very few. At most, you probably have a few pages of instructions from a doctor and a stack of medical bills. These aren’t useful to Social Security, but they will help you put your list together.
You also need the names and birth dates of any children you have who are still under 18, and you need your husband or wife's name and birth date. You also need to know the dates of all of your marriages and divorces, your place of birth and your mother’s maiden name.
You will also need to state a date of onset — the date your physical or mental health (or both combined) became so bad that you had to stop working.
Again, call us if you need help finding your date of onset. It's important for several reasons. It impacts the amount of your back-benefit (the lump-sum you get paid when Social Security decides you've been disabled for a long time and that you're owed a back benefit).
Also, your date of onset can also impact your Medicare eligibility. You become eligible for Medicare when you have been eligible for Social Security disability benefits for two years. If you're date of onset was more than two years ago, then you may become eligible for Medicare benefits as soon as you start drawing your monthly benfit check.
