Do You Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits
If your ability to work is limited by a physical or mental disability, you may be wondering whether you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Of course, the only way to get a certain determination of your eligibility is to go through the application process. However, the following basic information should help you determine whether you meet the technical eligibility requirements.
What are Social Security Disability Benefits?
Before delving into the specifics of who qualifies for SSD, let’s start with the most basic question: What is Social Security Disability?
Social Security Disability Insurance provides benefits to people who have performed qualifying work and have paid Social Security taxes, or who meet certain financial criteria, and have become disabled. The benefits include a monthly payment much like Social Security retirement benefits, and either permit a person early access to Medicare coverage or entitle them to Medicaid. The disability need not be permanent: a person may qualify for Social Security Disability if he or she is unable to work for a year or more.
Why would I get Social Security Benefits?
People who have become unable to work due to a physical or mental disability will benefit from the stability of regular monthly income through Social Security Disability. They’ll also gain improved access to medical treatment if they’re not covered by private medical insurance.
Qualifying for Social Security Disability
The qualifications for Social Security Disability benefits include:
Work History: An applicant must generally qualify under two distinct work tests.
Recent Work: An applicant who becomes disabled in the quarter during which he or she turns 31 or later must generally have worked five of the previous 10 years, though the requirement differs for younger applicants.
Duration of Work: The applicant must also meet a minimum work requirement across his lifetime, without regard to how recent that work was. Depending on the age of the applicant, this threshold may vary from 1.5 to 9.5 years.
Current Work Status: A person who is currently working and earning more than an average of $1,130 per month generally cannot be considered disabled for Social Security purposes.
Supplemental Security Income: even if you have not worked enough to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you may be entitled to Supplemental Security income benefits, which are based on financial need instead of work credits.
Help with your Social Security Disability Claim
If you’re currently unable to work due to a medical disability that has lasted, or will last for, more than a year, talk to us at the Deuterman Law Group. We’ll help you fight for Social Security Disability benefits to help support you and your family during your disability.
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