It's not easy to hear that you might be out of work for a long time and unable to earn a living to support your family. It can be harder to hear that you might never be able to work again due to a disability. If you are unable to work because you have been disabled due to an injury, you should hire a Social Security Disability lawyer to help you file to receive benefits.

There are a few mistakes you could make while filing your claim, however, and it's best to try to avoid them so you won't be denied your claim. Here are some of the common mistakes you should avoid while filing your claim.

Applying For Disability Benefits Too Early

While it might seem like a good idea to file a claim for disability benefits as soon as possible, it can be a mistake to apply too early after being injured and not being able to work. This can result in a claim denial and then having to go through the appeal process which could take longer than you might need. 

If you have just been injured or are unable to work due to a temporary illness or your injury isn't so severe that you won't be able to work again, hold off on filing your claim for several months or longer if possible. You can consult with a Social Security Disability lawyer to see if that is the right choice for you. This is dependent on whether or not you will recover from your disability over time, or if you may be permanently unable to work.

If you can wait to file, it's best to do so. Make sure you have all your relevant medical information and speak with your doctor about your case so you are well informed.

Collecting Unemployment Benefits

If you are unable to work for a certain time because of an injury or illness, you might be collecting unemployment benefits. While this is normally ok, if you intend to file for disability benefit payments, it could hinder the process.

When you file for unemployment benefits either due to a long-term leave of absence from work or because you had to leave that job due to an injury, it is thought that you will someday be able to go back to either your previous job or be able to find another one.

If you find that you will not be able to work anymore but had been receiving unemployment benefits, it could mean that an insurance company will deny your claim. Talk to your Social Security Disability lawyer to see if you shouldn't apply for unemployment benefits while you are off work. 

For more information, contact a Social Security Disability lawyer near you.