What Makes Someone Eligible For Social Security Disability?

Social security disability benefits are available to persons who are totally disabled and cannot work due to illness or injury. If you think you may be entitled to disability benefits, please contact a social security lawyer in your area to see if you qualify.

What You Need To Know About Social Security Disability Benefits

First, you must have worked long enough in order to be eligible for disability benefits. Generally, the amount of time you've worked will depend on your age. For example, a 40-year-old man who has been out of the workforce for 20 years would have worked for approximately 10 years to become eligible for social security disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration uses a five step test to determine if you are disabled. This is the most important part of the application process because if you do not meet the criteria in the first three steps of the test, you cannot receive benefits. The steps are as follows:

1. If you are under the age of 65, the SSA will determine whether you are currently working or if you are able to work.

2. If you are unable to work, the SSA will determine if your impairment is severe enough to keep you from performing any work you can perform.

3. If your impairment is severe enough to keep you from working and meets the duration requirement, the SSA will then consider whether your impairment meets the medical requirements.

4. If your impairment meets the medical requirements, the SSA will then consider whether you are able to perform any work you have the physical capacity to perform.

5. If you are unable to perform any of the jobs the SSA finds you can do, you are considered disabled.

You should apply for social security disability benefits as soon as possible because benefits are paid retroactively.

How To Apply For Disability Benefits

To apply for disability benefits, you must contact a social security lawyer in your area. A lawyer will review the information in your application and will make sure you meet the criteria for eligibility. After this, the lawyer will prepare and file an application for you. You will then be given a claim number. If you want to know how much your monthly benefit is, you will need to provide the claim number to the SSA.

When filing an application for disability benefits, you will need to provide the following:

• Your name

• The date of your birth

• The day, month, and year of your death

• The state where you are living now

• The address of your current residence

• The name of your employer

• The name of your insurance carrier

• The name of your attorney

• A statement describing the nature of your disability

• Medical evidence that proves your disability

• Any additional information that may help the SSA decide your case

How Long Will It Take To Get Disability Benefits?

Once you file an application for disability benefits, it can take several months before the SSA determines your eligibility. This is because there are often multiple levels of appeal. The SSA will contact your lawyer to give you a final decision. If your lawyer does not receive a response within 90 days, they should call the SSA again to ask them to explain why they have not yet made a decision.

Disability Benefits

Disability benefits are available to persons who are totally disabled and cannot work due to illness or injury. If you think you may be entitled to disability benefits, please contact a social security lawyer in your area to see if you qualify.