Social Security is a federal insurance program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for workers and their families. This system is funded through payroll taxes paid by employees as well as employers and self-employed individuals.
In the case of disability benefits, Social Security announces how to apply in a few easy steps.
Applying for Social Security disability benefits
The first thing to keep in mind is that we must have a recognized disability.
Once disabled, we must go to the application form on the official government website, ssa.gov. Once inside, we choose the three ways to apply: online, by appointment or over the phone.
On the website itself we can see the option to “submit application“. If we click there, it sends us to a website where we will have to accept the conditions and fill in all the data requested.
Among the data that may be requested are:
Personal Information:
- Social Security Number.
- Birth certificate or proof of birth abroad.
- Names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth of your spouse and minor children.
- Marriage and, if applicable, divorce information.
Medical information:
- Names, addresses and telephone numbers of doctors, clinics or hospitals that have treated you, with dates of treatment.
- List of medications you are taking and who prescribed them.
- Information about medical exams or tests you have had, such as EKGs, X-rays, lab test results, etc.,
- with information about who ordered them and when they were performed.
- Summary of your medical condition and how it prevents you from working.
Employment Information:
- A copy of your most recent W-2 or, if self-employed, your previous year’s tax return.
- Detailed information about the work you were doing before you were unable to work because of your condition.
- A list of the jobs (up to five) you have held in the last 15 years before you became unable to work, including the types of jobs and the dates you held them.
Apply for disability by appointment or telephone
Schedule an appointment
Available in most U.S. time zones Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in English and other languages.
Call +1 800-772-1213
Let the Social Security representative know you want to schedule an appointment to apply for benefits. Social Security will schedule and determine whether the appointment will be by phone or in person.
Call 800-325-0778 if you are deaf or hard of hearing.