If you have been temporarily injured and cannot work, you need to support yourself and your family. You may qualify for short-term disability benefits, but to determine your eligibility, you must go through the application process. Because the application process can take three to five months before a decision is made, it is
essential that you apply for benefits as soon as you have been injured.
Step 1 : Gather your information
Gather all the necessary information required when filling out an application for disability benefits.
This will include complete information about your medical condition, such as the names of the doctors, the addresses of the clinics or hospitals, the dates of the exams, the medications you take for your condition and the medical records in your possession.
You also need a complete work history of the past 15 years, bank statements and checking and savings account numbers, military service records, your Social Security number, as well as the Social Security numbers of your spouse and dependent children, W-2 and last year’s tax records and information about your workers’ compensation claim.
Step 2 : visit Social Security Website
Visit the United States Social Security website online and click on the “Disability” link at the top of the page.
Step 3 : Fill the application
Fill out the online application for Social Security benefits. If you can’t apply online, you can contact the Social Security office, using their 800 number to schedule an appointment in person.
Step 4 : Apply for short-term disability
Apply for disability, using the online form “Apply for the disability of an adult”.
Step 5 : Submit
Submit your application online and note your confirmation number.
Step 6 : Wait
Wait for a representative from the Social Security office to contact you for a telephone interview. The representative will review your information over the phone during the interview and give you a general time frame for the amount of time you will wait to get your claim confirmation. It usually takes three to five months to make a decision.