Navigating Disability Benefits: A Guide to Paperwork & Application

Disability benefits are provided by the federal government and paid out of Social Security tax revenues for individuals who qualify as disabled. You can file for benefits online through the Social Security website or by applying in person at a local office. You will need different paperwork depending on the reason for your disability and your employment status. Additional information may be requested to verify any claims. It can take three to five months to process an application.

Instructions

• 1

  Review the Disability Benefits Checklist website (see Resources). This list will give you an overview of the necessary paperwork you need to gather to apply.

• 2

  Click the "Start Report" button on the Adult Disability Report website (see Resources). This is the main application and once you have filled it out you may submit it by mail. However, you must fill it out before printing. If you cannot fill it out online, you can do so at a local Social Security office (see Resources).

• 3

  Print any necessary supplementary forms from the Social Security Forms website under the heading "Disability Forms" (see Resources).