Social Security Disability Eligibility Overview

Social Security Disability benefits are an important safety net for anyone unable to work due to a medical condition (illness or injury). Determining whether or not you qualify for SSDI can feel overwhelming for many, and that’s even before you begin the application process—which can be lengthy and confusing. Here at The Advocator Group, we will do everything in our power to make the SSDI application process as simple as possible so you can focus on your health and family. That’s why we’ve put together the following resources to help you judge your eligibility and begin the application process.

Do You Qualify?
The first step in receiving SSDI benefits is determining whether or not you’re eligible. Your eligibility is determined by several factors, including: your (in)ability to work, your work history,your work activity, and whether or not you contributed into the Social Security trust funds through your previous payroll taxes.

Eligibility and Work Credits
To meet Social Security’s definition of disability, you must have earned the required amount of work credits. Work credits are built up y and are based on how much you make each year. The number of credits you will need to qualify will vary somewhat based on age, but generally you will need 40, 20 of them need to have been earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. You can earn up to 4 credits every year. It’s important to note that after a certain amount of time spent not working, these work credits will expire.

How Social Security Defines Disability
Social Security has a strict definition of disability. They will only provide benefits to those they find to be completely disabled. This means you will not be eligible if you are only considered partially disabled by Social Security’s standards or if you are only unable to work for a short amount of time (less than one year). They will also consider whether or not you’re still able to perform the functions of your previous job despite your medical condition.

Compassionate Allowances for Severe Medical Conditions
Social Security also maintains a list of severe medical conditions If you suffer from any of the afflictions listed there, you will usually be considered disabled automatically.

Situations With Different Eligibility Requirements
If it seems that you are not be eligible for SSDI, don’t be discouraged. Social Security has designated certain medical conditions and cases to be judged differently; these are known as “Special Situations,” and each one comes with its own set of eligibility requirements. Some of these special situations include caring for a disabled child or suffering from blindness or low vision.

Help With The Application Process

We need a sentence or two here to transition out of the prior section and into this one: We do more than simply educate you about the SSDI application process; we are here to help you walk through it. This starts with making sure our clients understand the significance of the application, completing paperwork correctly and efficiently, and having an experienced representative working on your behalf.

The Importance of the Application Process
Once you establish that you’re eligible for SSDI, you will need to submit an application for benefits. It is important to properly complete the application process because of how important these benefits can be to you and your family’s financial well-being. Not only that, but it can take anywhere from 3 months to three years for you to receive a final decision on your claim, and any mistakes made during the application process (such as missing a deadline or not submitting key documentation) could increase your wait time . This is where our experienced team of Client Advocates can help!

The Advocator Advantage
The Advocator Group will be with you throughout every stage of the application process. We will help you determine whether or not you’re eligible, and from there we will complete the application with you and submit it on your behalf. We have over 15 years of experience, and our team of Client Advocates will ensure that your application is completed in a manner that meets Social Security’s exacting standards. We are experts in the SSDI application process and will keep you informed of anything you can do to help your claim progress quickly and efficiently. We also serve as the main point of contact for Social Security, so you don’t need to worry about the back and forth phone calls and paperwork, or having questions you can’t seem to get answered. Lastly, if you are awarded benefits, The Advocator Group will make sure you understand your benefits and any additional steps you should take to protect you and your family’s financial future.