To get benefits, you’ll need to be medically unable to work by the SSA’s definition. That means you have a medical condition (an illness or severe injury) that you expect to keep you out of work long term (at least a year).
Unfortunately, you can’t just tell SSA that you are sick and need assistance. You need to prove it. For most people, this means you need a history of medical care with records you can access. And, most people need to be receiving ongoing treatment when they apply. The way the SSA sees it: If you are too sick to work, you should be seeing a doctor. So you’ll need to prove to them that you are.
What medical records should you have on hand
Gather as many medical records as you can find and — certainly, all of the ones that relate to your condition. SSA will want to review anything you can muster that shows your condition and its impact on you.
What if you don’t go to the doctor
Please go. If you can’t afford one or don’t know where to go, there are free and low-cost medical centers that you can try. You can find some more resources here.