What Factors Are Considered When Determining Disability Benefits?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Disability Determination Service (DDS) will examine several aspects of your claim to see if you are eligible for benefits. They’ll use that information to figure out how much money you’ll get in benefits.
They will assess whether you are employed or able to work, the severity of your medical condition, and if it is listed in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book, which is a list of medical conditions that qualify for disability payments.
They’ll also check your record to see how much disability insurance you have through your employment credits and whether they’re enough to qualify you for Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI).
If you don’t have enough credits, you could still be eligible for a benefit, but it will be through Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is means-tested, meaning that the amount you receive will be determined by your assets and any income you generate.
Do you have a job?
Because one of the requirements for Social Security Disability Benefits is that your medical condition prevents you from working a job for a minimum of 12 months, the SSA will look at whether you’re working or not.
Is your ailment classified as “severe”?
Your illness must be so severe that you are unable to work in any capacity.
If you are unable to provide sufficient medical evidence that your disability is serious, the SSA may ask you to participate in a Residual Functioning Capacity (RFC) test, which is conducted by your doctor and assesses your physical and mental capacity, such as your ability to move around, sit and stand in one position for extended periods of time, how much you can lift, and how well you can concentrate on various tasks.
Is there a reference to it in the Blue Book?
The Social Security Administration will check to see if your ailment is listed in the Blue Book, since if it is, your disability benefits claim is more likely to be accepted. A medical issue may not be included separately but rather as one of numerous lists, making it more difficult to determine your eligibility for disability benefits.
Are you able to work?
The Social Security Administration will assess whether you can accomplish the work you’ve done before or whether there is any other work you might be able to do. If it is discovered that you can still work, your claim is less likely to be approved.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) sometimes analyzes your age, assuming that if you are older, you are less likely to be able to learn new skills and hence are more likely to have your disability application approved.
Find out if you’re eligible for assistance.
A lawyer or social security advocate may be able to assist you in determining your eligibility for benefits. They can check your disability insurance record to see if you’ve accumulated enough work credits. Take a free case evaluation, contact an attorney or advocate if you need assistance understanding your disability insurance record.
For Social Security Offices in San Antonio, Texas, there’s plenty of offices to choose from to complete your Social Security Disability Benefits application if you prefer to do it in person instead of online.
