We help the disabled and injured obtain the benefits they need.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) and long-term disability insurance companies evaluate disability by looking at an individual’s limitations based on all of his or her impairments. As a result, people with many different impairments, even some that may not often be thought of as “disabling,” when combined with other problems, may qualify for benefits. These benefits may include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and/or disability benefits through a long-term disability insurance policy.
You could qualify to receive thousands of dollars a month in disability benefits. Our disability lawyers designed a free 5-minute quiz to help you determine if you may be eligible to receive benefits. If you apply for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will ask you certain questions to determine your eligibility. This quiz features an overview of these questions, shedding some insights into the factors that the SSA considers relevant and giving you a better idea of how likely you are to be approved for benefits.
Do You Qualify For Disability Quiz
Do You Have a Medical Condition That Has Either Prevented or Will Prevent You From Working for at Least 12 Months?
This question addresses your ability to work. In order to qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you must have a serious medical condition that prevents you from working for at least 12 months. Short-term, temporary impairments don’t qualify: you must have been unable to work for the past year or be expected to be unable to work for a year. There is an exception to this 12-month rule if you have a terminal illness like pancreatic cancer or mesothelioma.
How Long Has Your Condition Prevented You From Working Full Time?
SSDI applicants are the only ones who need to be concerned about this question. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) requires you to have worked five of the past ten years, or, 20 of the last 40 quarters, to qualify. The amount is subject to change: In 2022, you must have earned $1,510 during a quarter to count.
In order to qualify for disability benefits, Social Security will look back ten years from the date of your application. For instance, if the last quarter you worked was six years before your application date, you won’t be eligible for SSDI, although you may be approved for SSI if you meet its financial criteria.
Are You Currently Receiving Medical Treatment for This Condition?
This question concerns your medical care. You will have a hard time convincing Social Security that your disability is severe if you have not seen a doctor and are not receiving treatment. In addition, Social Security cannot determine if you would benefit from medical treatment, which is a determining factor when considering disability applications.
The SSA will also want to know whether:
- Your doctor believes you’re unable to work. Medical opinion carries significant weight.
- You can perform daily activities such as bathing, dressing, feeding yourself, or doing household chores and if so, to what extent you can do them unassisted.
How Old Are You?
Those in their fifties have a greater chance of getting benefits than those who are younger. People who have worked physically demanding jobs for most of their lives often have trouble learning new skills as they get older, and medical conditions can deteriorate with age. If you are younger, you may have a lower chance of getting approved for benefits, but the severity of your medical condition is the most important consideration.
What Was Your Average Income, Before Tax, Over The Last Three Years?
You may be eligible for SSI if you haven’t worked much in the past five or ten years, but this benefit is reserved for those with very low incomes and assets. Assets and income (from all sources, including spousal income) must be below certain amounts to qualify for SSI.
Ready to Apply for Disability Benefits? We Can Help!
Although disability benefits are a financial lifeline, applying for them can be complicated. Over 60% of initial applications are denied. If you are already dealing with a painful and debilitating condition, the thought of struggling through an appeal is probably overwhelming.
At Bross & Frankel, we understand what you’re going through and can ease the process by filing your original application or appealing a denial. When you work with an SSD lawyer, your chances of approval increase significantly, and you owe us nothing unless we secure benefits for you. To learn more or to schedule a free claim review, call us today at 856-210-3345 or contact us online.
What Conditions Automatically Qualify You For Disability?
Examples Qualifying Conditions
Some examples of people with qualifying medical or mental health conditions for social security or long-term disability insurance benefits include:
- A 50-year-old who has performed physical work for the past fifteen years and can no longer stand and walk for extended periods due to severe back pain;
- 31-year-old suffering from severe depression and anxiety, which prevents the individual from reliably showing up to work, instead missing work three or four times a month;
- A 44-year-old with multiple sclerosis, who is unable to maintain focus on any task for more than thirty minutes at a time as a result of her symptoms;
- A 38-year-old with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, who has to lie down for up to two hours each day.
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