Disability does not come with a warning; anyone can become disabled. According to experts, Americans in their 20s have, on average, a 30% chance of getting a disabling condition that can cause them to miss at least three months of work.
A disability can cause anyone to have an early and unplanned retirement. Yet, despite the huge risk disabilities can pose, most Americans don’t have short-term or long-term disability insurance. If someone sustains an injury or illness that leaves them disabled, and they can no longer work, what would they do?
The most reliable option for that individual would be to apply for monthly benefits that are given by the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration also provides retirement benefits to people of retirement age. However, acquiring Social Security disability benefits is not that simple. To qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), applicants need to go through a rigorous application process.
If you think there may come a time when you’ll have to rely on SSDI, this article is for you.
Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration is charged with overseeingSocial Security Disability benefits. Theseare monthly benefits for people who are too disabled to work. The Social Security Administration has two programs through which it pays benefits. Those two programs are:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Both programs identify disabled people in the same way, but there are some fundamental differences between the two. SSI and SSDI are meant to be for two entirely different groups. Because of this, the benefits the qualification requirements and the sources of funding are different.
Social Security Disability Insurance
Social Security Disability Insurance is a program that insures laborers if they get sick or injured and aren’t able to work. But with SSDI, you don’t have to pay insurance premiums to an insurance firm. Recipients have to pay Social Security taxes out of every paycheck they receive. This money then funds the SSDI program. The amount of benefits you receive depends largely on your work history and the amount of wages you have earned in your life, which in turn were paid into this insurance program.
SSDI benefits can be paid the entire time someone is disabled until they reach the retirement age. That is when they transition onto retirement benefits.
Supplemental Security Income
These benefits are awarded to individuals who have a disabling condition, little to no income, and a limited amount of resources. SSI benefits are funded through tax revenue and the monthly income in SSI is typically lower than that of SSDI.People over the age of 65 can also qualify for these kinds of benefits.
An individual can qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits even if they don’t have any work history. However, it is requiredthat they have low income and a small number of valuable assets.
The Definition of Disabled
To get benefits under the SSI or SSDI program, you’ll have to meet the requirements of a disability set by the Social Security Administration. The SSA generally does not pay benefits for partial or short term disabilities. To qualify for a disability:
- You must not be able to do the work that you were able to do before.
- The SSA must also decide that you are not able to do any other type of work as well due to your medical condition.
- The disability has lasted, oris expected to last for at least a year or to result in death.
With this being said, it is also essential that you know that most disability benefits cases are denied mostly because the SSA determines that the claimant’s condition does not meet the SSA’s definition of a disability.
Listings of Impairments
The Listing of Impairments is a document of health problems that is prepared by the SSA. The listing of impairments has conditions that are considered severe enough to qualify for disability. It has two parts. Part A lists adult health conditions, and Part B contains children’s health conditions.
Within each part, there are categories of health conditions that cover different parts of the body. In each of these categories you can find diseases, disorders, and medical problems that the SSA considers eligible for benefits. But merely having a disease or disability listed in the listing of impairments isn’t enough.
You also need to exhibit the symptoms listed for your disease in order to get the benefits attributed to that condition. For a lot of listed conditions, there’s an exhaustive list of symptoms that must be present to qualify for disability benefits. There’s also typically a frequency that the SSA expects you to show these symptoms.
How Do You Apply for Disability Benefits?
It is understandable that when an individual is out of work, their ability to pay for an attorney is impacted. That is why Kahn and Associates take most cases on a contingency fee basis, which means they do not require any payment unless they are successful in securing benefits for you.
To learn more about your rights under the Social Security Disability laws call our FREE Disability Hotline at 1-866-4-MY-SSDI (469-7734) to speak with one of our friendly disability rights advocates who, once they obtain all the required information, will evaluate your claim in 60 seconds or less or fill out our FREE Disability Case Assessment form and one of our representatives will contact you immediately.
