Disability Benefits (SSDI & SSI) Made Simple: Key Changes to Ease Application Burden

Having to file for a disability benefit like SSI or SSDI can be tricky and exhausting, but Social Security is making it easier for applicants in the US

Disability Benefits (SSDI & SSI) Made Simple: Key Changes to Ease Application Burden

SSDI and SSI disability applications become easier

In a significant move to simplify the application process for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), applicants will now only need to provide five years of employment history instead of the previous 15 years.

The recent changes in the disability application process aim to make it easier for people to receive benefits. By reducing the requirement from 15 years to five years of past employment information, the Social Security Administration hopes to alleviate some of the burdens applicants face.

SSDI and SSI application change’s advantages

According to Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security, highlighted the advantages of this new rule in a statement:

“This new rule will lessen the burden and time our applicants face when filling out information about their work history,” O’Malley commented. “It also improves the quality of the information our frontline workers receive to make decisions, improving customer service, and reducing case processing time and overall wait times.”

Applying for SSDI and SSI benefits can be a complex and multi-step process. Applicants need to demonstrate that their disability has either prevented them from performing substantial work for at least a year or is expected to be terminal.

This was highlighted by Ann Biddle, Litigation Supervisor for the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, in a recent SSA blog post. An essential part of the application includes providing detailed work history information from the past 15 years, which encompasses job titles, duties, and dates. This requirement can often be quite burdensome for applicants.

Simplifying the Application Process

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has made efforts to simplify this process. One significant change is the elimination of the requirement to provide employment information for jobs that lasted less than 30 days. This adjustment is expected to make the application process more accessible and less time-consuming.

Benefits of the Recent Changes

Ultimately, these changes aim to make it easier for individuals to apply for SSDI and SSI benefits, ensuring they get the support they need in a timely manner.

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