Hundreds of thousands of American citizens suffer from debilitating disabilities or disabilities that prevent them from leading healthy and ordinary lives, whether it be an inability to work or an inability to go outdoors. Thankfully, the U.S. government has a solution, and this is Social Security Disability Insurance as well as Supplemental Security Income, which can solve the problems of those experiencing disabilities.
In this article, we are going to tell you how you can find out if you are eligible for SSDI.
Qualification for SSDI [or SSI]
In order for a person to receive SSDI or SSI, they must be disabled. Disabled is an umbrella term for psychological, mental, or physical ailments and illnesses that prevent them [the person suffering] from doing work or leading an otherwise ordinary life. Whatever the disability, it must prohibit and restrict them from doing work for at least 12 months [or has done already and will continue to do so].
If you feel that you do qualify for one of the Social Security Disability programs, then it is worth applying. If you have been denied unfairly, then you can contact disability lawyers to help you – you can also contact them for advice on your initial application. Below you will find some additional criteria for application.
Eligibility for SSDI or SSI
Not Earning Monthly SGA
If you are not earning the monthly SGA, then you may be eligible to apply for SSDI. SGA, which is an acronym for substantial gainful activity, is one of the key eligibility factors when it comes to a disability benefits application. For SGA, a person must earn more than a specific amount monthly which can be put toward normal expenses.
Low income does not necessarily mean that you cannot work though. The agency that handles disability benefits will evaluate the merits of your case and establish whether or not you can work, just in different fields of work than what you are working in.
Previous Work
You must be incapable of earning money in any previous types of work that you have done, throughout your life. The SSA [Social Security Administration] will not award benefits until they are satisfied that you cannot use the skills that you have picked up to continue to work and look after yourself financially. They will examine your previous work history because of this and then assess whether or not you would still be able to work in that line of work. If they decide that you can, then you may be unable to receive benefits.
Tax Contributions
In order to qualify for most disability benefits, then you must be able to prove that you have contributed money through taxes, otherwise, you may not be eligible. If you want to claim disability insurance, then they will expect you to have worked previously and paid into the tax scheme, which will earn you credits. The more tax you pay, the more credits that you earn. Typically, you will need at least 40 credits to be eligible for disability insurance. Credits are awarded yearly, with four being issued each year. You should have earned at least 20 in ten years. This is generally one of the deciding factors as to whether or not you will be granted disability insurance.
Day-to-Day Difficulty
When your case comes before the SSA and they evaluate whether or not you are eligible to receive any disability benefits, they will want to know how you cope every single day with your disability, and how it affects your life, down to the most minute of details, for example, how you get yourself dressed in the morning, or how you brush your teeth. If you do not give satisfying answers for these, then you will likely have your case dismissed.
Ideally, they will want your medical condition to prevent you from living a normal, functioning life in order to become eligible for disability benefits.
When you attend your appointment, you may want to bring a physician or healthcare professional who works closely with you along so that they can verify you really do have the conditions that you say that you do. This will help them to make a more informed decision. Bringing somebody for support is advocated for anyway, so seriously give it some thought if you are nervous about attending your appointment alone.
Residency
And, finally, in order to qualify for any disability benefit, you will need to be a resident of the United States. While some non-citizens can apply, those who are already citizens are far more likely to be accepted and will have to undergo fewer barriers and steps.
The disability benefit scheme is a lifesaver for people who are unfortunate enough to experience disabilities. We hope that, with this page, you now know how you will be able to qualify and apply for disability benefits. Thank you for reading – please visit us again soon.
