Social Security Disability
The U.S. government recognizes that illness and injuries, both sudden and chronic, can prevent individuals from continuing in their employment. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an insurance program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to assist Americans who find themselves medically unable to work.
SSDI is not a handout or a welfare program; it’s an insurance policy that employees contribute to automatically through taxes on their employment income. A percentage of every paycheck is directed to the SSA’s Disability Trust Fund, which disburses those funds to disabled individuals of all ages and employment histories. Any person who is disabled by any medical condition that prevents them from working and meets certain eligibility requirements may apply for and potentially receive SSDI benefits.
Because the application process can be confusing, complex, and unfamiliar to those inexperienced with navigating large bureaucratic institutions, it is highly recommended that applicants find support from legal experts like Pond Lehocky Giordano to guide them every step of the way.
Disabling Conditions
The first step in applying for SSDI benefits is proving the existence of a disability to the SSA. Medical conditions that may result in a determination of disability include (but are not limited to):
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Hip, knee, or hand issues
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Diabetes
- Headaches
- Heart Disease
- Anxiety and Depression
- Crohn’s Disease and IBS
- Cancer
- Lupus
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Chronic Fatigue
- Stroke
Over 70-percent of individuals are denied SSDI benefits the first time they apply for them. A determined and knowledgeable legal team is essential to streamlining what can be an arduous process that is fraught with potential pitfalls. Additionally, even if an individual has been denied in their application for SSDI, they are entitled to reapply through an appeals process.
Eligibility
SSDI is available to individuals who have paid into the SSA through their taxes for a period of time before becoming disabled. That length of time varies but is generally five of the last 10 years.
However, individuals who have not worked or paid taxes in many years, have only worked for a brief period of time, or who have never worked or paid taxes may still be eligible for a different SSA program called Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The eligibility requirements for SSI are based on financial guidelines similar to public assistance or welfare. Individuals that are not working or earning less than $1,310 in gross income per month and have a medical condition which prevents or significantly limits their ability to work are eligible.
The SSA takes age into consideration when making determinations for both SSDI and SSI. Individuals between the ages of 18-49 must show they have conditions so severe that they are unable to continue in their prior type of employment or any other type of work in the national economy.
The bar for a successful application is lower for individuals over the age of 50, particularly if the work they previously performed was physical in nature.
Disability Benefits
If an applicant is approved for SSDI benefits, they may receive:
- Monthly payments
- Retroactive payments (depending on the date disability was determined)
- Health insurance under Medicare within two years of the disability entitlement date
- Additional monthly benefits to any of the applicant’s children under the age of 18
