subject: How Does The Ssa Decide On Your Eligibility For Disability Benefits? [print this page] The Social Security Administration defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that prevents you to do any of the substantial gainful activities. The impairment must also be expected to result to either death or to last or have lasted for twelve months. With this SSA definition, it is important for you to know how the government agency decides on your disability for you to receive benefits. The SSA implies a step-by-step questioning scheme that you, the applicant, should ask yourself.
1.)Are you working?
If you are working and earning an average of more than the base amount required by the Social Security for 2010 ($1,000), it is impossible that you have any disabilities. If you are not working, you should ask yourself the next question.
2.)Is your condition severe?
Your claim must prove that you have either a physical or mental impairment that prevents you to do basic activities in relation to work. If you are still able to do work-related activities, the SSA wont consider you as a person with disability. If not, you should ask yourself the third question.
3.)Is your disability found in the list of disabling conditions?
The SSA determines an applicants disability with the use of their List of Adult Impairments stated in their blue book. The SSA will consider you as disabled if your impairment is as severe as the ones on the list. If it does not, they may decide if it is as equally severe as a certain similar medical condition on the list, and if not, you go on to the next query.
4.)Can you do work you did previously?
If you have an impairment that is severe but not at the same level of severity as a medical condition on the list, the SSA would determine if youre condition impedes your previous work. If it does, you ask yourself the final question.
5.)Can you do any type of work?
The SSA will determine if you can adjust to any type of work other than your previous one. If they do, they may deny your claim. If you cannot adjust to other work, then your claim is most likely to be approved.
First-time applicants usually do not use the step-by-step process. In most cases, these applicants are denied of their claims to acquire disability benefits. It would really matter if the applicants can have a talk with a Santa Monica attorney who specializes in social security laws to clear out some issues that may arise from the process of applying for SSDI benefits.
