| Many Americans have a limited understanding of the | | | | is expected to result in death. |
| disability benefits available from the Social Security | | | | - The nature and extent of your impairment. |
| Administration (SSA). This federal government agency | | | | - Your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity |
| provides benefit programs to individuals with serious | | | | since your impairment began. |
| disabilities and to their families. | | | | - The date that your disability began. |
| The Difference Between Social Security Disability | | | | Do I Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits? |
| (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Social | | | | You must be totally disabled from employment and |
| Security Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) are available | | | | meet the Social Security Administration requirements |
| to disabled workers who paid enough earnings into the | | | | for prior earnings. |
| Social Security system. SSA determines if you are | | | | As defined by the Social Security Act, a disability |
| eligible for DIB, based on your work history during the | | | | means: |
| years before you became totally disabled. As a | | | | Inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by |
| general rule, you probably have enough work credits to | | | | reason of any medically determinable physical or |
| qualify, if you worked for 5 out of the last 10 years. | | | | mental impairment which can be expected to last for |
| The following factors determine eligibility for DIB: | | | | acontinuous period of not less than 12 months or result |
| - Whether or not you have enough work credits to | | | | in death. |
| qualify for disability benefits. | | | | Therefore, you may be eligible for Social Security |
| - Whether or not you have an impairment that has | | | | Disability benefits if you can answer yes to one or |
| lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months, or | | | | more of the following questions: |
| is expected to result in death. | | | | - Do you have a severe physical or mental impairment |
| - The nature and extent of your impairment. | | | | that prevents you from participating in any type of |
| - Your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity | | | | gainful employment? |
| since your impairment began. | | | | - Do you have a disability that prevents you from |
| - The date your disability began. | | | | working at any job, rather than just your previous |
| The family members of a person approved for | | | | employment? Has your disability lasted, or is it |
| Disability Insurance Benefits also may qualify for | | | | expected to last, for at least one year? |
| benefits, based on the disabled wage earner's SSA | | | | - Is your disability life threatening? |
| earnings. Furthermore, children and spouses of | | | | Medical Evidence for Your Social Security Disability |
| deceased individuals who accumulated enough SSA | | | | Claim |
| earnings prior to death may be eligible for benefits. | | | | The Social Security Administration requires evidence |
| Supplemental Security Income Benefits (SSI) are | | | | of the extent of a disabling condition before awarding |
| provided to low-income disabled children and adults. | | | | benefits. To succeed in obtaining benefits, you must |
| SSA considers other benefits, savings, certain assets, | | | | have a severe impairment that is shown by "medically |
| and income of household members, to determine | | | | acceptable clinical and laboratory findings." |
| whether a claimant's income is low enough to qualify | | | | Unfortunately, many illnesses may completely disable |
| for SSI. | | | | an individual, but remain difficult to diagnose. In these |
| The following factors determine eligibility for SSI: | | | | cases, an attorney can analyze your medical records |
| - Whether or not your household income meets the | | | | to try to find the evidence necessary to prove that |
| SSI income limits. | | | | you have a serious disability. |
| - Whether or not you have an impairment that has | | | | If you or a loved was denied Social Security benefits, |
| lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months, or | | | | talk with an experienced Social Security lawyer today. |