How to Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits

Rules for Disability Benefits Qualification

The first rule for qualifying for Social Security Disability is that you must not be gainfully employed. You must provide documentation proving that you're not gainfully employed to the Social Security Administration for them to approve your disability application.

Definition of "Substantial Gainful Activity", or SGA

The definition of substantial gainful activity is that you are doing significant and productive physical or mental duties and is performed for pay.

Maximum Allowable Earnings

If you are earning more than the maximum allowable amount, the Social Security Administration will usually deny your claim for benefits, deciding you are performing Substantial Gainful Activity, according to the definition above

Severity of Disability, Injury or Illness

The Social Security Administration requires that your condition must be severe enough to significantly limit your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities in order for you to qualify for benefits.

Approved Impairment

Is your disability in the listing of approved impairments? The Social Security Administration requires your condition be listed in this document, or you must seek special approval. If your condition is listed and it has lasted or is expected to last for at least a year or is expected to result in death, your application is usually approved. If your condition is not on the list but is of equal severity to an impairment on the list, your application is usually approved.

Can you Perform The Same Work You Used To?

If you can prove that your disability is severe, even though it doesn't appear on the list of approved impairments, you need to prove that you can't perform the same work you performed before suffering your disability.

Can You Perform Other Work?

Even if you can't perform the same work you used to, you'll still need to prove that you cannot do other work. The Social Security Administration considers your medical condition and your age, education, and past work experience in making this determination.

An Experienced Law Firm Can Help You Qualify

Our Law Firm is experienced in the process of applying for, and appealing for, Social Security Disability Benefits. If you need help negotiating the maze of qualification rules, or appealing your disability benefits case, we will help you navigate the difficult journey of the disability benefits process.

Our lawyers can help you with your appeal of denied claims, and more importantly, help you meet all the qualification guidelines so we can prove the extent of your diability to the Social Security Administration before your application is denied. We can help you throughout the entire disability benefits application process.

Help for Denied Disability Benefits

If your claim for Social Security Disability Benefits is denied, our lawyers will present your case at the hearings, providing a strong defense in an effort to reverse a denied claim.

Contact The Rasansky Law Firm for help with your Disability Benefits application or to fight a denied claim.