Eligibility For Disability
Eligibility for Disability: Am I Disabled?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays disability benefits to individuals who are unable to work due to suffering from mental and/or physical impairment(s). One of the most common disability questions asked is regarding the eligibility for disability? In order to determine your eligibility for disability, SSA looks at not only your medical criteria but also takes in to account certain non-medical criteria as well in order to determine whether you qualify for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits. Consequently, you must first be able to prove that you are medically disabled, then, you must prove that you have either earned enough work credits to be considered “insured” under the SSDI program or your income and assets were low enough to qualify for the SSI program.
Medical Disability
What constitutes a medical disability? For SSDI or SSI purposes, to determine your eligibility for disability and ultimately be awarded benefits, individuals must have one or more impairment(s), medical, psychological, and/or psychiatric in nature that keeps them from being able to do their past work or other comparable work. In addition, the disabled person’s impairment must be chronic in nature thus having lasted or expected to last at least 12 months.
Furthermore, assuming an individual has a unique case where she suffers from a combination of mental and/or physical impairments. In those instances, SSA must consider the combined effects of those impairments. For example, in certain instances, your physical condition may cause you to become depressed or anxious. On the other hand, in certain instances, your mental condition may bring about some physical symptoms which prevent you from functioning normally.
While we all experience some acute depression, sadness, and stress from time to time, bear in mind that the mental conditions eligible for disability benefits must be much more severe in nature. The may include but not limited to chronic depression and anxiety as well as bipolar disorder, ADHD and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, Schizophrenia and so on.
I hope this helps to answer some of you questions. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our firm handles only Social Security and SSI Disability claims and nothing else. We can help you start a brand new claim or help you appeal a denied claim. Once a claim is denied we urge clients to request a disability appeal in Glendale, or your local Social Security office. However, prior to doing so, it is important for you to consult with one of our Social Security Disability Attorneys to find out about your eligibility for disability. Remember, we don’t get paid until you win so ahead, give us a call or fill out the Free Case Evaluation form below and let us help you get the benefits you deserve.