How to Complete Forms and Reports for Your SSD Case
Forms Needed for a Disability Claim
Beginning a disability claim can be daunting for most people. You have a disability that prevents you from working and earning a living but to receive benefits, you must convince a disability specialist of that fact. Should your application be denied, you are facing reconsideration, and as many as three appeals. Your only other alternative would be to simply give up on getting the benefits you need and deserve—and for most people, this is not an option.
You may either be filling out your forms online or requesting the forms from a DDS specialist and filling out paper forms. You will be asked about your day-to-day ability to function, details regarding your specific medical condition, your work history, who lives in your home with you—and much, much more. When you begin your application, you may immediately notice the many different forms necessary to apply for disability. The forms needed for a disability claim include:
- Form SSA-16-BK (Application for Disability Insurance Benefits) will ask for information regarding your medical conditions, birth and citizenship, veteran status, employment status, family history, and work and earnings history.
- Form SSA-3368-BK (Adult Disability Report) is an eleven-page document that requires much more detailed information regarding your work history, medical condition, and earnings history, asking for other individuals who have specific knowledge of your disabling condition. You will need contact information from at least one person and will be asked about any changes you have been required to make in your job due to your disabilities. Your birthdate and contact numbers are required for this form, as well as your education and training. You will need your job history for the last 15 years, including up to the last five jobs you had during that period of time. Any medications you take—including name, frequency, and dosage, will be required as well as all treatments received for your disabling condition. There is a remarks section on the Adult Disability Report that will allow you to add any other relevant issues that will help SSA evaluate your eligibility. Add any supporting documentation—the more accurate and complete this report is, the better chance you will have of having your benefits approved.
- SSA-3369-BK (Work History Report) deals exclusively with your past work history. If you have had more than five jobs within the past fifteen years, you can include this information. The Work History Report will ask for details about your duties at each job, your education, wages, and job training, and how your disabling condition impacts your ability to complete your current job duties.
- SSA-827-BK (Authorization to Disclose Information to the SSA)
Your Voice in the Fight for the Justice You Deserve
Here's What Sets Our Team Apart
Carmichael Law Group guides you through every step, from applications to appeals, with clear communication and strategic advocacy.
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Focused on Results
We fight tirelessly to secure the benefits you deserve, using strategic legal expertise to achieve the best possible outcome.
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Honest GuidanceWe prioritize clear communication, ethical advocacy, and transparency, ensuring you understand your rights and options.
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Proven Track Record
With years of experience and thousands of successful cases, we provide skilled representation at every stage of your claim.
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Compassionate Advocates
We treat every client with respect, empathy, and personalized attention, guiding you through the SSD process with care.
Will My Attorney Complete the Disability Claim Forms for Me?
While your SSD attorney from Carmichael Law Group can assist you in filling out the seemingly endless mountain of forms, we can’t do it for you. Unfortunately, the forms necessary to apply for SSD benefits really need to be filled out by the person needing the benefits. Your attorney does not have the level of knowledge about you, your family, your work, your education, etc. that is necessary to complete these forms.
While it will certainly take some time for you to complete all the forms and gather all the paperwork, never lose sight of your goal. The more comprehensively you fill out your forms, the more details you provide, and the more supporting evidence you include, the more likely you are to be approved for SSD benefits. For each job you list, make sure you provide the level of physical exertion the job required. How much standing, walking, crawling, lifting, bending, or other physical exertion did the job require?
And remember—even if your job is relatively sedentary, don’t overlook the physical exertion you did while on the job. As an example, perhaps you had to put away boxes of paper, or move the copy machine to get behind it and remove jammed paper. You may have been responsible for buying coffee and other supplies for the break room, carrying in bags of groceries. So, even if your physical exertion didn’t occur every day, almost all of us have some level of physical exertion in our jobs.
Could My SSD Claim Be Denied Because I Skipped a Form—or Made a Mistake on a Form?
Some of the most common reasons for an SSD application being denied have to do with missing information, missing forms, or incorrect information. It’s common to leave a question accidentally unanswered, provided inaccurate or incomplete information, or forget a form altogether. This can either cause delays in a decision for your SSD benefits or can result in an outright denial. Make sure every single question is answered—completely. If a specific question is not relevant to your situation, mark it as N/A (not applicable) rather than just skipping the question.
Disability claims can be won or lost on medical evidence, making it crucial that you provide as much medical documentation for your disabling condition as possible. Include every healthcare provider you have seen—even if it does not seem relevant. Along with your primary disabling condition, include any other medical conditions that could conceivably contribute to your inability to work and make a living.
Mistakes are often made on the Work History Report which asks that you list all the full-time jobs for the past 15 years, describing the physical demands and duties of each job. Make sure you include lots of details on this form. Especially for those over 50 for whom Grid rules apply the Work History Report is even more important. If you are 50 or older, there are special rules that take into account your age, education, past work experience, and the ability to adjust to other jobs that could be less physically demanding.
If you realize after the fact that you have made a mistake on your application that was not corrected before it was submitted—or if you simply want to provide clarification, you can contact your local SS office by phone or in-person to have your mistake corrected. Once your application and all forms are filled out and you have attached supporting information, an experienced SS lawyer from Carmichael Law Group can look it over to ensure it is complete. Any potential errors can be caught in advance, improving your chances of success.
