Suffering from a serious disability that prevents you from working can be nerve-wracking. If you’re lucky, you have family members and friends who can support you until you get approved for benefits. In the meantime, you will want to be as proactive as possible in submitting your Social Security disability insurance application.
Here are the steps involved in your Social Security claim for disability benefits:
Understanding the definition of a “disability”
For an individual to qualify as “disabled,” the Social Security Administration will want you to provide evidence of the following:
- You can no longer complete the job duties you performed before your disability.
- Your disability is the reason why you cannot perform your job duties.
- Your disability will continue for at least one year, or it will likely result in your death.
If the above three criteria are true in your case, then you may be able to seek Social Security disability benefits. However, in order for you to qualify as disabled, you will not be permitted to engage in an employment activity that earns over $1,090 per month.
What medical conditions qualify me for a disability?
To facilitate applications for Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security Administration has compiled a list of automatically-approved conditions. In cases where these conditions are severe enough to satisfy the above three qualifications, applicants will generally gain approval. All you have to show are the relevant medical papers that prove your condition is severe enough for automatic approval.
If your ailment does not appear on the SSA’s list of disabling conditions, then you will likely need to submit more medical papers – including an opinion and diagnosis from your treating physician – to prove your case.
Get help with your Social Security disability application
Getting approved for Social Security benefits can be a complicated process. In particular, if you are suffering from a severely disabling medical condition, you might not have the energy it requires to appropriately organize your application for benefits, let alone know the legal strategies that could help you seek the maximum benefits available.
This is where an experienced Social Security attorney can help. A lawyer will take the burden of your application off your hands so that you can devote your time and energy to your health rather than legal concerns.