The Motley Fool (And Allsup) On Social Security Disability

From The Motley Fool (a internet investing advice site):

Most investors today are taking steps to provide for their own retirement income, since they understand that relying solely upon Social Security retirement benefits is a prescription for poverty. But many seem more than willing to count on Social Security's disability program if something happens to them during their careers. However, they may not realize just how little is covered -- or how difficult it might be to get benefits. ...

Even if you meet all the requirements, it's tough just to get a hearing. There's already a backlog of 750,000 pending requests for disability hearings at the SSA's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. That backlog equates to about one in every 300 American adults. It's a long line you'll be standing in if you're expecting government insurance to carry you through. And that backlog is expected to keep growing.

Jim Allsup, a disability claims expert and president of Allsup Inc., has seen a 168% increase in the number of people seeking out his assistance in navigating the minefield of the disability application process. Some experts suggest that statistics show as many as 70% of all disability claims are initially denied by Social Security. With that in mind, Allsup has offered 10 ideas to break through the backlog, including timely filing of your application, preparing an accurate medical record, and reducing your spending.