It can be tough to apply for disability benefits when you’re dealing with major health issues and financial issues at the same time. We help people in Mississauga with this process and we know many people feel lost when they start filling out their disability forms. At Longo Lawyers, we’ve helped many people through this process and we know how important it is to get it right from the start.
The first step is to figure out what disability programs are available to you based on your situation and medical condition. The Canada Pension Plan Disability benefit, the Ontario Disability Support Program and other help programs can help you financially during tough times. Before you start the application process you need to understand the eligibility criteria, application process and benefit levels for each program.
One of the most important part of any successful disability application is getting all your medical records in order. Your medical documents must clearly show not only that you have a medical condition that qualifies you but also how that illness makes it hard for you to work or do daily tasks. This complete paperwork should include full records from all the healthcare professionals who have treated your condition, such as family doctors, medical specialists, hospitals, rehabilitation centres and mental health professionals who know your case very well.
The time you apply for disability can have a big impact on whether you’re eligible and how much you’ll get in benefits over time. Some programs require you to apply within a certain time frame after being incapacitated, others require you to wait a certain amount of time before you can get benefits. Also the application process can take months or longer so it’s best to start early to make sure you get the financial help you need when you need it most.
To be eligible for any benefits your medical condition must meet the requirements set out in the disability program standards. It’s not enough to just get a medical diagnosis from your doctor to ensure your application will be approved. You need to show that your condition makes it very hard for you to work on a regular and ongoing basis for a long time. We help clients understand these strict rules and make sure their applications clearly show how their conditions meet all the relevant standards and criteria.
The application forms have many detailed sections that ask for full and accurate information about your medical history, work history and daily limitations. Even questions that seem simple at first can have a big impact on the outcome of your claim and whether or not it gets approved. For example if you don’t accurately describe what you do every day it could make it seem like you’re more physically or mentally capable than your medical condition really allows.
Supporting documents go beyond basic medical information. They include full employment history, educational background and extensive testimony from family members or friends who see your limitations on a daily basis. These extra pieces of evidence help provide a full and convincing picture of how your disability affects your daily life and ability to work.
Many disability applications are denied at first but this is usually because the paperwork is incomplete or the applicant didn’t follow the right process not because the application wasn’t valid. This first denial doesn’t mean your case isn’t strong or valid.
We handle a wide range of legal issues including slip and fall cases. This gives us a lot of experience with different kinds of injuries and how they affect people’s ability to function normally over time. This information helps us understand how different medical conditions affect your ability to work and makes disability claims much stronger.
To apply for disability in Mississauga you need to know a lot about both federal and provincial programs that help people in the area who need money during tough times.