In these desperate economic times, the long wait for a Social Security Disability hearing, can make the difference between eating, getting medical care, or even losing your home. With little money coming in, a lot of people wonder how to pay for rent, utilities, and groceries and wonder whether or not they should get a job.

When should I get a Social Security Disability Attorney?

There is often a gap in time from when a disabled person who is applying for Social Security loses their group health insurance and their entitlement to Medicare.

If the disability examiner or judge notes in your medical records that you are “depressed” or “anxious,” the Social Security Administration may be obligated to send you for a mental consultative examination even if you don’t claim to be depressed or anxious on your application and have never sought treatment.

The Social Security Administration reviews your medical records to determine if your condition meets what is called a “Listing of Impairments.”

Unfortunately, an extraordinary number of Social Security Disability applicants who are denied benefits will decide to stop pursuing their claim, submit appeals that are too late to be accepted by the Social Security Administration, or try to start all over again by filing a new application.

Improving your chances of winning Social Security Disability benefits at the initial stage is rather simple.

Social Security can recoup overpayments until you die. Alternatively, they can stop your benefits, which means you’ll have to start all over again in the disability evaluation process and prove that you are disabled.

I recently read a blog post on the Epilepsy Foundation forum about Talitha who has applied for Social Security Disability and is frustrated with the Social Security Disability application process.

She asked “How can I speed up the process to obtaining Social Security?”