Every day tens of thousands of Americans wake up to debilitating medical conditions that prevent them from maintaining a sustainable job. Faced with adversity, these individuals look to their best chance of survivability; Social Security. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two federally funded programs, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which are meant to provide financial assistance to those with crippling disabilities who cannot work and make enough money to sustain themselves and/or their families.
If you’re living with a disabling medical condition and are unable to work consider speaking with a professional Social Security disability attorney. You’ll be able to discuss if one of these Social Security disability programs is right for you. The following are the top five factors that can contribute to a higher success of qualifying for Social Security disability benefits.
1. You Are Not Meeting The SGA Each Month
Substantial gainful activity (SGA) is one of the primary factors considered when the SSA evaluates your application for Social Security disability benefits. To meet the monthly SGA, your income needs to exceed the set minimum each month to contribute to stand living costs. For non-blind people, substantial gainful activity is set at $1,180 each month for 2018. For blind individuals, substantial gainful activity is set at $1970 each month. You’ll need to earn more than these amounts to be considered engaging in SGA.
2. You Cannot Complete Work From An Old Occupation
The Social Security Administration will first look to see if you’re able to work any of your past jobs before they approve you for Social Security disability benefits. The complete this by reviewing your past relevant work history (PRWH), which details:
- Job descriptions.
- Any physical requirements.
- Physical complications you dealt with while working.
- What reasons were given as to why your medical condition prevented you from completing a job correctly.
If your PRW accurately reflects your current livelihood, then the chances of you qualifying for SSD benefits increases.
3. You Have Accumulated Enough Work Credits
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, you will need to provide evidence that you have earned sufficient work credits via contributing enough to Social Security taxes. You’re able to acquire a maximum of 4 work credits each year.
For SSDI, sufficient work credits would be 40 credits, 20 of which have to be earned in the last ten years before you became disabled. Keep in mind, the amount of credits needed varies by age; the younger you are, the fewer credits are needed to be eligible for SSDI.
4. You Struggle To Complete Daily Tasks
Another critical component of your Social Security disability benefits application is how well you’re able to depict how your medical condition prevents you from completing typical daily tasks. These tasks include moving around, bathing, dressing, cooking, interacting with others, tidying up the house, engaging in hobbies, and other essential activities.
If you’re confident you can prove to the SSA that your medical condition has left you struggling to live a healthy, functional life, you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits.
5. You’re A Legal U.S. Citizen
The SSA typically provides Social Security disability benefits to residents of the United States. While certain circumstances permit non-citizens to qualify for SSD benefits via contributing to the disability fund by paying taxes, those who are already legal citizens have a shortened application process compared to non-citizens.
You Don’t Have To Do This Alone
The Social Security disability application process is notoriously known to be one of the most difficult, frustrating, and complex systems to navigate as well as being awarded benefits. Thankfully, there are professional Social Security disability attorneys who are here to help you create a strong SSD application which will give you the best chances of being awarded SSD benefits. They can help gather medical documentation, assist in completing sections of the application, organize your case, and represent you in court during the appeals process if it comes to that. Don’t wait, contact a Social Security disability lawyer as soon as possible so you can begin the lengthy application process.
