Disability in Georgia

Some important things to remember when filing for disability in Georgia are that the state rejects more claims for disability than the national average. This means that if you want your claim to be taken seriously and have a chance at being processed in a timely manner and having a good decision come out on your side by the Social Security Administration (SSA), then you need to make sure that you are turning in a complete packet with all of the important information included. If there are questions concerning one of your answers on the forms or if something doesn't look right, it is unlikely that they will call you to clarify. Rather, they will probably go ahead and just deny your claim, leaving it up to you to get everything back together and re-file before sixty days have passed.

How long is the Application Process?

Many people get discouraged when filing for disability in Georgia, because it can take so long for applicants to get a response as to whether or not their claim has been processed. During this time, an applicant cannot work at all, so money can be extremely tight and this can cause a lot of problems for disabled people who must wait on the claim to receive any money at all. One of the reasons that it takes so long is that the claim has to pass between the hands of the SSA and the disability adjudication section of the Georgia Department of Labor. This state entity goes over the claims and collects the medical records to go with that claim. The Georgia disability adjudication section then goes over the complete application packet and gives their verdict as to whether or not the person is considered disabled. This information is then given back to the SSA, which renders its verdict.

What to do if you are denied?

If your claim is denied at the very first application, don't get too discouraged. Yes, the rates of approval for those applying for disability in Georgia are lower than normal, but it is just part of the bureaucracy of the process. After the verdict is rendered, you'll have 60 days in which to re-file with your appeal. If you want to increase the chances of your decision being positive, you should consult a practicing lawyer specializing in disability.