It is estimated that around 65% of people who apply for disability each year are denied on their first try. That means all of those people have to appeal their disability claim denials if they want their applications to be reconsidered. In many cases, the reason for claim denial is because the applicant didn't do something right when they first applied. Here are three things you can do to help you win your disability appeal.

1. Make sure you file it in a timely manner.

Like so many other things in life, you only have a certain amount of time in which you can appeal your disability claim denial. In most cases, you will have 65 days from the date of the denial decision letter that is sent to you. That's 60 days plus the five-day grace period they give to allow the denial letter to reach you.

However, your deadline could be less, so be sure to check the date you need to appeal the decision. If you wait and the appeal date passes, you will have to start your disability benefits application over again from the very beginning.

2. Comply with any outstanding needs or changes outlined in your denial letter.

So many people are denied social security disability benefits for things they can actually take care of or change themselves. For instance, they don't provide enough medical documentation of their disability with their application. This can easily be taken care of during the appeal by getting all of the medical documentation you can and bringing it with you.

Get letters from all of your doctors, copies of all of your x-rays and other diagnostic imaging results, etc. There is never too much medical documentation when it comes to appealing your disability denial.

You also need to be sure you aren't making too much money. In order to be approved for, and keep, disability benefits, you cannot make more than $1,090 if you aren't blind. If you do, then that demonstrates to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that your disability isn't severe enough to prevent you from working a full-time job. So, if your income was a reason for your denial, you will want to decrease your hours so you make less.

3. Hire an attorney with experience winning disability cases.

Appealing your disability denial is a multi-step process. When you file your first appeal, you likely will handle that one on your own. However, since the denial rate for first appeals is even higher than the denial rate for when you first apply for disability benefits, you likely will have to go further in the appeals process. That is where you will benefit from hiring a social security disability attorney.

Winning your disability appeal will depend on your evidence. There is no better person to present evidence than an attorney. Not only that, but a social security disability attorney has extensive knowledge of rules governing disability benefits. They will know the best way to present an argument for your case so that you are more inclined to win your appeal. Contact a local attorney, like Banik & Renner, for any questions about your case.