Attestation is a formal term that essentially means, “Yes, I intend to file an application.” If you think of a time when you filed an application for a car loan or mortgage, you had to physically sign a paper application and submit that application to that company. Then, they would review it and determine your eligibility. The Social Security Administration (SSA) was the same way. Previously, you were required to physically sign a paper application, submit it, and then they would review it to see if you were eligible for benefits. With extreme technological advancements, the SSA has adjusted its processes to keep up. However, attestation is, unfortunately, still required, and it is extremely important that you, as a disability claimant, complete this step.
Attestation is essentially a disability applicant saying, “Yes, I want to file this disability application.” The attestation process typically proceeds as:
- After you apply online for benefits, the SSA will usually contact you about 30 days after your application is submitted. They will ask you a few questions to verify your identity, such as your name, social security number (SSN), and possibly your date of birth (DOB).
- After you have been correctly identified, they will ask you to state that you will not misrepresent any information on the application. This process helps prevent someone from attempting to file a claim for your disability.
- After the attestation phone call, the SSA should begin processing your application. It’s important to know that until you complete the attestation stage, no work will be done on your claim. It is imperative that you complete the attestation as soon as possible, as there is a limited amount of time to get this completed. Unfortunately, if you do not attest to your application within the allotted timeframe, the SSA will delete your application as if it never existed.
While attestation may appear redundant (we lean towards this line of thinking), it is a necessary step to begin your claim and have the SSA begin reviewing your information. Currently, the legal team of Parmele Disability Advocates is working on your behalf with officials in Washington, DC, to try and get the attesting requirement removed. However, with no permanent Commissioner in place, the process to enact this change is extremely difficult.
What does this mean to you as a person applying for disability benefits? Simply one thing: when you receive a call from the SSA to fulfill the attestation requirement, answer the call and complete this step immediately. Once this is complete, the SSA will begin reviewing your claim. Unfortunately, while the SSA enforces timeframes for the claimant, there are no timeframes implemented or enforced for the SSA. They work as quickly, or slowly, as they wish.
The legal team of Parmele Disability Advocates is continually working on your claim, advocating on your behalf to help you obtain the disability benefits you so rightly deserve. If you are considering applying for disability or have questions about this process, please contact us to schedule a no-cost initial consultation: 866-889-2570. You can also chat with us via our website at parmeledisability.com.
Parmele Disability Advocates. Disability benefits for all.