Who Can Get Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?
Anyone who worked long enough and paid enough FICA taxes to earn work credits within the ten year period prior to their disability and is now unable to work or earn money due to a mental or physical impairment that is expected to result in death, has lasted more than one year, or is expected to last more than one year may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD) benefits.
You must apply for benefits and complete the documents requested from the SSA. The SSA then uses a five step process to evaluatesthe evidence you provide, which may include medical records, psychological and physical evaluations, work history, witness statements, and direct testimony, to determine whether you are disabled.
It is not uncommon to be denied Social Security Disability benefits at first, but there is an appeals process if you are denied. Don’t be discouraged if you have already been turned down, or if you feel you might not be eligible even though you are not able to work. They key to winning a Social Security Disability case is information. The more documentation you’re able to provide, the better your chances of being approved.
Here are five steps the SSA uses to determine who will receive SSD benefits:
- Earnings: If you are currently working and earning more than $1,000.00 per month, you are likely ineligible for benefits. If you were unable to work, due to an impairment, for 12 months or longer at some time in the past but you are now able to work, then you may still qualify for a closed period of disability.
- Impairment: You must have some physical or mental impairment severe enough to prevent you from earning a living.
- Listings: Some impairments are considered so severe that the SSA will approve disability benefits based on evidence the applicant has the impairment. These conditions are commonly known as listings and they are very rigid in their requirements, but if you are able to meet the requirements then you should be entitled to benefits. If you don’t meet one of the listings then you will have to prove that your condition prevents you from performing basic work functions.
- Work History: Your work history plays an important and direct role in your eligibility because part of the evaluation process requires the SSA to determine whether you are able to perform your past relevant work (PRW), which is any work you have performed over the fifteen year period prior to your disability. Thus, it is very important that you provide a complete and accurate work history to help in the evaluation of your claim.
- Potential to Perform Other Work: Finally, the SSA determines whether you are qualified to do another kind of work. After evaluating your condition, SSA may determine that while you can no longer lift heavy boxes, you may be able to do some other kind of work commonly available, like running a cash register. In addition to the other evidence you have provided, they will consider age, education, skill levels, and past work experience. If the SSA finds that you would not be able to adjust to another type of work, they will approve Social Security Disability benefits.
In addition to the evaluation process described above, the SSA will also determine what cases should be reviewed first.
- Compassionate Allowances: The SSA has a list of severe and chronic disabling conditions that qualify you to cut through some of the red tape and go to the fast track. Having one of these conditions does not mean automatic approval, but it does speed up the process to ensure that the people in most need get help first and fast. Your disability does not have to be on this list to qualify for benefits.
Evaluation:
Special Circumstances: SSA grants special considerations to people under certain circumstances. Claims filed by people who are blind or nearly blind, disabled widows or widowers between 50 and 60 years of age, disabled children, and wounded warriors – military veterans who become disabled while on duty – are expedited and given extra consideration.
