What Makes Someone Eligible For Social Security Disability?

Social security disability is one of the most important benefits for older Americans, and it is also one of the most complicated. Social Security Administration (SSA) rules regarding social security disability are often complex and sometimes ambiguous.

This article provides a brief overview of social security disability for people with disabilities. It also includes information about how to file for social security disability benefits and how the SSA determines whether a person is disabled.

Eligibility for Social Security Disability Benefits

A person who becomes eligible for social security disability benefits must meet two requirements. First, he or she must have paid sufficient work during the years when he or she was able to work. This is called the insured status requirement. Second, the person must have become disabled before reaching the full retirement age of 66, which occurs on the earliest of the following dates:

• the first day of the month in which the individual attains the age of 62.

• the first day of the month in which the individual attains the age of 70.

• the first day of the month in which the individual attains the age of 75.

Once these two requirements are met, a person is entitled to receive a monthly check from the SSA for the rest of his or her life. The amount of the monthly benefit varies depending on the age of the recipient and the year in which the disability began.

To be eligible for disability benefits, a person must show that he or she is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medical condition or because of mental or nervous conditions. A person’s ability to work is determined based on his or her education, training, and experience.

SSA Rules for Determining Whether a Person Is Disabled

The SSA considers several factors in determining whether a person is disabled. These include the type of work the person has done, his or her age, the extent of any physical or mental limitations, and the types of medications that the person takes.

The SSA evaluates a person’s ability to work by considering how his or her medical condition affects his or her ability to perform basic work activities. Examples of such activities include walking, standing, sitting, lifting, bending, stooping, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, handling objects, seeing, hearing, speaking, and breathing.

Medical evidence, such as doctors’ notes, medical tests, and records of hospitalizations, is often taken into consideration when determining whether a person is disabled. In addition, the SSA may consider other evidence, such as the person’s own statements about his or her limitations, how the person performs his or her daily activities, the opinions of other people, and the opinions of medical professionals.

When a person has a severe impairment, the SSA must also evaluate the extent to which the impairment prevents the person from doing work. The SSA may consider the severity of the impairment, how long the impairment lasts, the type and dosage of any medications the person takes to treat the impairment, and how effectively the person responds to treatment.

If a person is found to be disabled under these criteria, the SSA will award him or her a monthly benefit. The amount of the benefit depends on the date the disability began and the person’s age at the time the disability began.

SSA Disability Application and Filing Process

Anyone who wants to apply for disability benefits must first complete a SSA disability application. To do so, the person must provide the name and Social Security number of the person who will act as the claimant. He or she also must provide evidence showing that the claimant has been insured for the required amount of time and that he or she meets the two eligibility requirements mentioned earlier in this article.

The SSA will then determine if the claimant is eligible for benefits. If he or she is not, the agency will send the person a letter explaining why. The claimant has 45 days to file a request for reconsideration with the SSA. If the claimant does not file a request for reconsideration, the agency will make the final determination.

If the SSA decides that the claimant is eligible for benefits, the agency will send the claimant an award notice. The claimant has 60 days to request a review of the agency’s decision. If the claimant does not request a review, the agency will issue the final determination.

A person who files for social security disability benefits may have to submit additional documentation as the process progresses. For example, the claimant may need to submit additional medical evidence as the SSA determines whether the claimant is disabled. If the claimant does not file the requested documents, the agency may deny the claim or take other actions to correct the problem.