Reporting Your Disability
You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It
can take a long time to process an application for disability benefits (three to
five months). To apply for disability benefits, you will need to complete
an application for Social Security Benefits and the Disability Report. You can complete
the Disability Report online.
You can also print the Disability Report, complete it and return it to your local
Social Security office.
SSA may be able to process your application faster if you help them by getting any
other information they need.
The information SSA needs includes:
• Your Social Security number;
• Your official state birth certificate;
• Names, addresses and phone numbers of the doctors, caseworkers, hospitals and
clinics that took care of you and dates of your visits;
• Names and dosage of all the medicine you take;
• Medical records from your doctors, therapists,
hospitals, clinics and caseworkers that you already have in your possession;
• Laboratory and test results;
• A summary of where you worked and the kind of work you did; and
• A copy of your most recent W-2 Form (Wage and Tax Statement) or, if you are self-employed,
your federal tax return for the past year.
In addition to the basic application for disability benefits, there are other forms
you will need to fill out.
One form collects information about your medical condition and how it affects your
ability to work.
Other forms give doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals who have
treated you permission to send SSA information about your medical condition.
Do not delay applying for benefits. If you cannot get all of this information together
quickly, our Social Security representatives will help you get it.
Once your Report of Disability is filed and reviewed for qualification, it is sent to your state disability office for review. Learn more about who decides if you are disabled.
