How to Start Your Social Security
Disability Claim With a Phone Call

You can start your Social Security disability or SSI claim quickly, easily and without any fee or obligation.   You need only call Social Security’s national call center at 800-772-1213.   Social Security’s offices are open between 7am and 7pm Monday through Friday.

Not surprisingly, your call will be answered by an automated attendant system.  You will have to choose English or Spanish, as well as the reason for your call.   You want to select an option that will allow you to file a claim for disability (for instance, you can say “apply for benefits”).  Eventually, you will be connected with a live operator.   The operator will ask you a few questions to start your claim, including your Social Security number, date of birth and other identifying information.   Be alert to two questions that may be asked of you:

• are you working?  generally, the answer to this question should be “no.”  I have heard reports that some Social Security operators will not process your claim if you attempt to file for disability while you are still working.  In reality, some types of work will not disqualify you but the operators who man the intake lines may not know this.  So, I recommend that you answer “no” if the claims representative asks if you are working

• when did you become disabled?   in most cases, the onset date of your disability will be the day after you last worked a regular job.  There are, of course, exceptions - sometimes a claimant continues to get paid, but doesn’t little or nothing.  Sometimes the boss makes a special accommodation.  If you are not sure about your onset date, choose the earliest possible date that makes sense.   Don’t use a date that is 10 years in the past, but choose a date that represents the last time you worked a regular schedule in a full time job.  You can always amend your onset date; however it is easier to move it forward in time than to change it to an earlier date.

Appointment With Adjudicator Will Be Scheduled

Once the phone claims rep takes down some basic information, she will advise you that a Social Security Adjudicator will be in touch with you to take down the details of your claim.   The phone rep may set you up with a telephone or in-person appointment in a few weeks, or, more likely, the phone rep will advise you to expect a letter in the mail containing the date, time and location of your claim intake meeting.

Make a note of the date and time of your interview.  If you do not receive a “claim filed” confirmation in the mail within 14 days, you should call back the 800 number.  It does not happen often, but Social Security has been known to lose files.  Do not assume that your claim has been recorded until you receive that confirmation letter.