Social Security has a very strict definition of “disability.” To be considered disabled in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must meet the following criteria:
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has disability programs for people who are medically disabled and are unable to work. You should know that if you’re a veteran who’s a wounded warrior, the SSA makes allowances for you to receive Social Security disability and VA disability simultaneously. In fact, the SSA will expedite claims for military service members who have become disabled while actively serving on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where your disability has occurred.
Some Americans are unsure of whether or not they can still qualify for disability benefits as they reach old age. However, older Americans actually see some benefits that other applicants don’t experience when they apply for disability.
Continue below to learn how the “grid rules” of disability qualification apply to you, and how you can get started with your application.
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans reports having a disability of some kind. Of these Americans, the majority are over 50 years old. As bodies age, some severe disorders become more common, while other less-dangerous disorders grow into larger problems.
These issues can make it difficult or even impossible to find work. If you're in this position, you may be worrying about you'll make ends meet. It can be a terrifying position to be in, but there is hope for you.
Applying for disability benefits can be tricky, especially when figuring out if you may qualify for benefits. The Social Security Blue Book is a great resource to refer to here, but even the Blue Book uses language that may be difficult to understand.
If your disorder requires an inability to “ambulate effectively,” continue below to learn what this term means and how you can provide evidence of this on your disability application.
If you are unable to work because of a medical condition, you might be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. While you may have several questions about how you can qualify for benefits, you should not be concerned if you have family members who are working in most situations.
To be approved for disability benefits, you must meet the qualifications for being fully disabled. No partial disability benefits are available for those who have disabilities. If you are physically well enough to work to earn substantial gainful income, you are not going to be approved for disability benefits.
If you are having health problems that have made working impossible and you are nearing the age of 62, you may think deciding to retire early may be the best option.
However, you need to look at the overall picture and determine whether early retirement or applying for Social Security disability would be the best option in your given situation. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has very specific guideline regarding retirement benefits and disability benefits.
If you are applying for Social Security disability benefits, you may be pondering the idea of getting an attorney or advocate to help you with your claim. You may wonder if the only time an attorney is beneficial is at the hearing before the administrative law judge, so you may be tempted to put off getting an attorney until you reach that point.
However, an attorney or advocate can be very helpful throughout the entire claims process. You can benefit significantly by consulting with an advocate or attorney early on, even before filing your claim.
The effect that additional income has on benefit eligibility, payment amounts, or other factors is determined by the kind of disability benefits for which you’re applying. Although there’s a financial review required during the disability claims process, only some income matters, and even then, only under certain circumstances.
SSI is a need-based program, which means financial circumstances play a major role in not only eligibility but also the amount of your monthly benefit payments.