Licking County Disability Lawyer Arnold Shaheen Tells How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits

Applying for Social Security disability benefits may seem easy, and in some ways it is. You can fill out the application yourself, without the help of a Licking County disability attorney. Many attorneys won’t even accept a case during the initial application phase.

You can fill out the application online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. Or, if you prefer, you can apply by phone or in person at your local Social Security office. First, you’ll need to call (800) 772-1213 to schedule an appointment.

If you want to file your application by phone, the Social Security Administration will give you a date and time to expect a call from someone who will walk you through the application process and take your answers over the phone. After your application is completed, it will need to be mailed to you for your signature.

If you want to schedule an in-person appointment to fill out your application at the Social Security office, they will give you a date and time to arrive and directions to the office, and will tell you what documents you need to bring with you when you go.

When you fill out your initial application for Social Security disability benefits, answer all questions in a straightforward way. Be specific about how your disability keeps you from working, but don’t exaggerate your symptoms.

Although the initial application process is pretty straightforward, most applicants are denied at this stage (65 percent). Beyond this point, the process gets more complicated, and you are more likely to benefit from the help of an experienced Licking County disability attorney. In fact, statistics show that applicants who are represented by attorneys are more likely to be approved for disability benefits than those who are not.

If you are among the 65 percent of Social Security disability applicants who are denied benefits at this first stage, the most important thing is to not give up. More than half of the people whose applications are denied fail to appeal the decision. But of those who appeal their case through the hearing level, most are awarded benefits.

If you have a medical condition that keeps you from working and you live in Licking County, Ohio or the surrounding area (including Reynoldsburg, Kirkersville, and Johnstown), contact:

Arnold E. Shaheen, Jr.
365 South Main Street
P.O. Box 49
Pataskala, OH 43062

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