Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

Before you apply, confirm that you meet the SSA’s basic eligibility criteria:

• For SSDI: You must have earned enough work credits by paying into Social Security through past employment.
• For SSI: Your income and assets must fall below the SSA’s financial limits.
• For both, you must have a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death that prevents you from performing substantial work.

Step 2: Gather Your Information

Prepare the following documents before starting your application:

• Medical records (diagnoses, treatments, test results)
• Work history (employers, job duties, dates of employment)
• W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns
• List of medications and treating physicians
• Proof of income, assets, and living arrangements (for SSI applicants)

Having these ready will make your application smoother and reduce delays.

Step 3: File Your Disability Application

You can apply in one of the following ways:

• Online at ssa.gov
• By phone at 1-800-772-1213
• In person at your nearest Tennessee SSA office

Be thorough and accurate when completing your application. Mistakes or missing information can result in delays or denials.

Step 4: Cooperate with the Disability Determination Services (DDS)

In Tennessee, your case is reviewed by Disability Determination Services, a state agency that evaluates your medical eligibility. You may be asked to:

• Attend a consultative exam with a doctor
• Provide additional medical evidence

Respond promptly to any requests to keep your claim moving.

Step 5: Track Your Application Status

After filing:

• Set up a mySSA account to track your claim online.
• Keep copies of everything you submit.
• Call the SSA if you haven’t received updates in a reasonable time.

The initial decision usually takes 3 to 6 months, but timelines can vary.

Step 6: Be Ready to Appeal if Necessary

It’s common to be denied at first. If that happens:

• File a Request for Reconsideration within 60 days.
• If denied again, request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

Appeals can take time, but many people are approved at the hearing level.