Do You Qualify for Social Security Benefits?
Social Security Disability applicants must meet both medical and financial criteria to qualify for benefits.
The Social Security Disability Administration will make a decision whether the applicant financially qualifies for
Social Security Disability before moving onto an analysis of the applicant’s medical conditions.
Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI)?
The determination of disability is the same for both Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income.
Determination of Disability
In order to receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), a certain amount of Social Security “credits” are needed. A credit is earned by working and earning $1,220.00 (for 2015) and $4,880.00 (for 2015) in earnings is required to receive the maximum four credits for the year.
Your credits will be calculated by the Social Security Administration when you apply for benefits. You must have enough work credits in the last 10 years of work to qualify for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits.
Without Sufficient Work Credits
If you do not have sufficient work credits for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits, you may still qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a means-tested benefit. When you apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, the Social Security Administration will ask you questions about your household resources. Generally, you cannot have more than $2,000.00 in assets for a single person and $3,000.00 in assets for a married couple to qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The Social Security Administration will not count your house or one car toward that limit.
The Social Security Administration will count any cash, bank accounts, and life insurance you have toward the resource limit. The maximum Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment in 2015 is $733.00 per month.
What is Considered a Disability?
The Social Security Administration defines “disability” as a medical condition or conditions that prevent someone from doing “substantial gainful activity” and is expected to last for at least a year or result in death.
But the process is not as simple as it may sound. The Social Security Administration looks very critically at an applicant’s medical records in determining whether the applicant meets their definition of “disabled”.
The best thing an applicant can do is have good medical documentation of their disabilities. That means regular medical treatment with clear diagnosis and evidence of treatment. One of the main reasons an applicant is denied is due to a lack of medical documentation.
What Kinds of Medical Conditions Qualify for Social Security Disability?
- Back and neck conditions, including herniated discs, bulging discs, arthritis, and degenerative disc disease (spondylosis, spondolyisthesis, and stenosis), along with numbness and pain into the legs and/or arms;
- Neck and back surgeries, including fusions, laminectomies, and discetomies;
- Shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, impingement, and shoulder replacements;
- Carpal tunnel syndrome;
- Lateral epicondylitis;
- Reynaud’s Syndrome;
- Hip pain and replacement;
- Fractured tailbone;
- Knee conditions, including torn meniscus, torn ACL, torn MCL, and knee replacements;
- Heel spurs;
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD);
- Chronic headaches;
- Cancer of any kind;
- Grave’s Disease;
- Kidney Disease;
- Hepatitis;
- STAPH and MERS Infections;
- HIV/AIDS;
- Depression;
- Anxiety;
- Schizophrenia;
- Anxiety and panic attacks;
- ADHD;
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
