Social Security Disability Claims: What You Need To Know

According to the SSA, the SSDI provides benefits to those who are retired and also to those who were employed but lost their ability to receive or earn wages due to a disability that affects them for a year or more or resulted in death. 

Disabilities like this happen more often than you think: studies report a 20-year-long worker has a 25%  likelihood of becoming permanently disabled before reaching the retirement age of 62. Incidents like this can happen on the job, and if that’s the case, it is necessary to apply for SSDI benefits as soon as possible. These benefits not only provide vital coverage for their applicants but also for their dependents, making it that much more necessary to ensure you receive the amount you deserve.   

The SSA has a developed a five-step process that determines if an applicant is eligible for SSDI benefits: 

1. Are you working? And if so, how much is your income?
   • SSDI benefits are for those making less than $1,220 a month.
2. How severe is your condition? 
   • If it is affecting your day-to-day life and is preventing your capability of working, you may be eligible for compensation. 
3. Is your condition on the following list? 
   • This includes severe mental health disorders, musculoskeletal system issues, chronic or severe skin disorders, respiratory illnesses, immune deficiencies, digestive tract diseases,  neurological disorders, sensory impairment or loss, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular conditions, genitourinary deficiencies, multiple systematic body impairments, as well as all forms of cancer, and more. 
   • If you don’t find your condition on this list of examples, but it is just as severe, ask one of our SSD lawyers because you may still be eligible for compensation. 
4. Are you still capable of completing the tasks from your prior employment? 
   • After a thorough review of medical records and examining the injuries that resulted in your disability, the SSA will determine if you are able to work just as effectively as you did prior to the accident.  
5. Are you able to perform any work at all? 
   • After looking at the application in full—such as age, medical condition, past work experience, and skills, as well as education—the SSA will determine if you can seek work through another capacity or not. 

If you’re curious about the multitude of SSDI benefits you may be entitled to, our attorneys will help narrow down your benefits based on your application. 

If you feel as though you’ve been mistreated throughout the SSDI process or just want to have help during such a rigorous but important application process, our lawyers are here to help. We won’t add to the stress: our lawyers work on contingency so we don’t get paid unless you reach the settlement you deserve—fill out this questionnaire to get started.