Before you file your application for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration suggests that you gather information that will be needed for the process. Our office recommends the following be obtained, if possible.
1. Personal Information
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Your Social Security number.
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Proof of age (e.g., birth certificate).
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Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were notborn in the United States.
2. Family Information
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Names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of your spouse and minor children.
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Information about any former spouses, including dates of marriages and divorces.
3. Medical Information
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Names, addresses, and phone numbers of doctors, hospitals, and clinics that have treated you.
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A list of all prescription medication that you take, along with dosage amounts and the pharmacies where you fill those prescriptions.
4. Employment Information
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A list of your employers and job duties for the past 15 years.
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Information about any workers’ compensation or other benefits you have received.
5. Other Documents
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Military discharge papers (if applicable).
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Award letters, pay stubs, settlement agreements, or other proof of any temporary or permanent workers’ compensation-type benefits you received.
The Social Security Administration allows you to apply for disability in several different ways. For more information on how you can apply, review the information here.
If you choose to make your application online, you can save an incomplete application if you do not have all the necessary information. This allows you to come back later and complete the application once you have obtained everything you need.
The Social Security Administration has created their own checklist in PDF form. You can review it here.
Hypothetical example
Treatment from several places
Marcus has diabetes and nerve damage in his feet. He sees a family doctor, went to the emergency room twice last year, and visits a specialist in another city. He also had blood work done at a separate lab.
How it works: Social Security asks for the name, address, and phone number of every doctor, hospital, and clinic, plus your treatment dates, medicines, and tests. It uses that list to request your records.
What matters: If a provider is left off the list, those records may never be reviewed.
Next step: Marcus makes one list with every provider, the dates he went, and each medicine he takes. He uses the checklist on this page to fill in the rest.
Source: SSA: Information you need to apply
This is a made-up example to explain the process. It is not a real client, does not predict any result, and is not legal advice for your situation.