How Does the SSA Decide If I Am Disabled?

Disabilities can present themselves in various forms, including physical and mental limitations. Certain disabilities may even affect your ability to work and earn a living. In these cases, you may need to rely on Social Security disability benefits for financial support – but how does the Social Security Administration (SSA) decide if you are disabled or not? We will try to explain how it all works.

Can Anyone Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?

While anyone can apply for disability benefits, the SSA defines disability strictly, requiring you to provide extensive proof that your disability has impacted your ability to work and earn a living.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an insurance program that provides benefits and compensation for certain disabled individuals if he or she has already paid into the Social Security program and earned enough work credits. Unlike certain other programs, a person is considered disabled if he or she is unable to work due to a severe medical condition that either lasts more than a year or may result in death. The condition must prevent this person from being able to do work he or she had done in the past, as well as work they could be doing currently.

How To Prove to the SSA You Have a Disability

The SSA will ask several questions, such as whether you are working over Substantial Gainful Activity (if so, you would not be eligible). They will also ask about your severe impairment and whether you meet or equal a listing – in other words, is your impairment significant enough that it qualifies you for benefits?

Next, the SSA requires information about your previous work and education. You will need to explain how you did your job and what skills you learned on the job. You will also need to provide specific details on the responsibilities of your role, tasks you performed, and the days and hours spent working. This information is important because it shows the SSA if you are able to do your past work. If it is clear you are now unable to perform your previous work, the SSA will consider your age, education, and other work experience to determine if there are other kinds of work you can perform.

Remember, it is your responsibility to provide any information that the SSA deems important for your claim evaluation or review. Our SSDI attorneys can help you determine what you need and assist in filing your claim.

Call the Jan Dils Team to Improve the Odds of the SSA Accepting Your Disability Claim

Since the disability requirements are so strict, you may feel disheartened when applying for Social Security Disability benefits. If you or a loved one believe you are eligible for SSDI or SSI, contact our office today to talk to an experienced attorney and see how we can help you set yourself up for success.