Why You Should or Shouldn’t Apply for Disability Benefits

Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits is no small task. The Social Security Administration has strict rules for being eligible to receive disability benefits. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration does not offer benefits on a short-term basis; therefore, knowing these rules will help you determine whether you should apply.

The team at Jan Dils Attorneys at Law can help you determine if you’re a good candidate for disability benefits. To get a head start, here are a few of the basic rules of eligibility;

• You have a diagnosed mental or physical disability that prevents you from working and has lasted or is expected last a minimum of 12 months

• If you are working, you are unable to earn more than $1,130 gross wages per month. This amount is known as substantial gainful activity (SGA)

• • If you were off work for at least 12 months or working below the SGA limit for 12 months but are now working above SGA, you may be eligible for benefits during the period of time you were below this amount

• You have worked and paid enough taxes for the Social Security Disability Insurance program or you have limited income/assets for the Supplemental Security Income program
• There are no jobs in the national economy that you can perform above the allowed limit (SGA) based on your age, education, work experience and the limitations posed by your disabilities.

In addition to meeting these basic eligibility requirements, you should make certain you apply for benefits as soon as you feel you are unable to work. The disability process can be extremely lengthy and the sooner you get started, the sooner you could be eligible for benefits. Also, the longer you wait to apply the more difficult your claim could be to win depending on the program you are applying for.

The rules above are not the only rules under Social Security disability law; however, they are some of the most important. If you’re thinking about applying for disability benefits call Jan Dils Attorneys at Law for a free case evaluation.