What Are the Requirements for Social Security?
Your eligibility for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits (also known as Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or SSDI) depends on your work history and your disability. In most cases, if you have worked five out of the last 10 years and are disabled (according to the Social Security Administration's (SSA) definition), you are eligible, covered and will be fully insured. To be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you must meet that same definition of disability and you must have sufficiently limited income and assets.
Our dedicated team of New York attorneys and support staff will help you answers these and other questions:
- What are the requirements for Social Security benefits?
- Are you eligible for SSD or SSI benefits, and when can you apply?
- What should you do if your claim was denied?
- What will SSD benefits cover?
The hard part is getting the SSA to agree that you're disabled — a task that nearly one million people each year initially fail to accomplish. Hiring an experienced disability benefits lawyer to help you file or appeal your claim can increase your odds for obtaining money and benefits. Learn more about how to choose the right attorney to assist you.
The SSA's Five-Step Disability Determination Process for SSDI
The SSA has a five-step disability evaluation process that can briefly be described with the following questions:
- Are you working? If not, or if you are only able to earn a limited income, answer the next question.
- Is your condition severe? If your condition is expected to result in death, or if it has kept you from working or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months, go on to the next question.
- Does your condition meet or equal a listed impairment? If the answer here is yes, your claim for disability benefits will be granted — if not, there's still hope. See the next question.
- Can you do any of your previous work? If the government finds that your disability will not allow you to do any of your previous relevant work, answer the next question.
- Are there other jobs you could do? Based on your age, medical condition and a number of other factors, the SSA will look at whether there are other jobs in your region that you could do. If the answer is no, your claim for disability benefits will be granted.
- Are you over 50 years old? This eligibility test is substantially more lenient and easier than the test for people under the age of 50. In most cases, we need not prove that you cannot do any other work, just that you cannot do your previous relevant work.
Put Our Experienced Team to Work for You. We Charge No Fees Unless We Win.
The dedicated team of professionals at Schwartzapfel Partners P.C. helps people cut through the red tape and successfully navigate the difficult and confusing disability claims process. Let our SSDI lawyers start helping you today.
Call us today at 888-801-1914 or contact our New York law firm online to schedule your free consultation to learn more. You won't have to pay any attorney fees unless and until we win your claim and get money and benefits for you.
