Becoming disabled can quickly turn your life upside down. If you cannot work, then you cannot pay your bills. Luckily, you might qualify to collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to cover your expenses if you become disabled.
What is SSDI?
Funded through payroll taxes, SSDI is a government program administered by the Social Security Administration. It “insures” employees who have worked a given number of years and have made contributions to the Social Security trust fund. If you become disabled and cannot work, then it pays you a monthly cash benefit. The benefit amount depends on your earnings record, similar to Social Security benefits.
You do not have to prove financial need to qualify for SSDI and the program has no income or asset limits. You must, though, be younger than 65 to be a SSDI candidate. There is also a five month waiting period to receive benefits. This means that you will not receive payments during the first five months after you become disabled.
Receiving SSDI Benefits
Once you have applied for SSDI benefits, then the SSA will determine if you have worked long enough to be covered by SSDI and if you are actually disabled.
How Does the SSA Determine Disability?
The SSA looks at five criteria to determine if you meet its definition of disabled.
1. Are You Working?
If you are working in 2019 and your earnings average more than $1,220 a month, then the SSA will determine that you do not have a disability that prevents you from working and it will not consider you a candidate for SSDI.
2. Is Your Condition Severe?
Your condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, and remembering for at least 12 months. If it does not, then the SSA will find that you are not disabled.
3. Is Your Condition on the SSA List of Medical Conditions?
For each of the major body systems, the SSA maintains a list of medical conditions that it considers so severe that each one prevents a person from completing “substantial gainful activity” (SGA). If your condition is not on the list, then the SSA has to determine if it is as severe as a medical condition that is on the list.
4. Can You Do the Work You Used to Do?
The SSA must determine if your medical impairment(s) prevents you from performing any of your past work. If it does not, then the SSA will determine that you do not have a qualifying disability.
5. Can You Do Any Other Kind of Work?
If you cannot do the work that you did in the past, then the SSA will look to see if there is any other type of work you could do even though you are disabled.
If the SSA determines that you are disabled, problems can still arise to prevent you from receiving SSDI benefits. Millions of people apply for SSDI benefits each year, but only34% of claims are approved. Why are so many SSDI claims denied? These are three of the most common reasons:
1. Lack of Medical Documentation
Many SSDI claims are denied because of a lack of solid medical evidence. If you want to qualify for disability benefits, then you need to provide documentation that you are really unable to work due to your disability.
2. Failure to Follow Treatment
If you do not follow the treatment that your doctor orders, then the SSA will deny your disability claim. The SSA examiner on your case must be able to determine whether or not your condition actually prevents you from working. He cannot do this if you do not cooperate with treatment.
3. Failure to Cooperate
If you want to increase the chances of qualifying for SSDI, then you must stay in touch with the SSA examiner on your case and provide documentation as requested. Not doing so can lead to your claim being denied.
Get the SSDI You Deserve
If you have a disability, the process of applying for SSDI can seem daunting and overwhelming, particularly when only 34% of initial claims are approved. To increase your odds, please contact us. Our legal team is standing by to help you through the disability application process and looks forward to working with you.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individualsituation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.