Disability Eligibility? Am I Disabled?

Am I Disabled for Disability? Or: disability-eligibility-security-social hooray!

Who Is Eligible? Almost anyone is eligible for social security disability benefits if:

• You cannot work full time because of serious physical/mental health limitations.
• Your physical or mental health problems must last, or be expected to last, for at least a year; and
• The problems must prevent you from working full-time, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week; or
• Prevent you from working part-time and earning more than $900 gross a month in 2007.

Try this simple disability eligibility test first:

Because of medical problems, can you work? NO? Do you expect you will be able to work within a year? NO?

If your answers are “No” and “No,” go to Social Security’s disability requirements test, below.

If you think you can work full time, maybe you can. But, consider:

• I always urge people to work if they are able. Most jobs pay more than you will get from SSDI. The average monthly SSDI payment in 2007 is $979, the max is $2,116. The most SSI pays is $623. Unfortunately, not all jobs come with medical insurance; disability does: Medicare or Medicaid.
• Many people are in denial about how bad things are. If you "don't know" if you can work full time ... ask your spouse ... your family ... your doctor.
• There are special rules if you can only work part time or if you can only work some days, but not other days. This is a very common situation.

Take Social Security’s Disability Eligibility Test: (Social Security's words; my translation.)

1. “You are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental impairment.”

Translation: Because of medical problems, you are unable to work, or, you are unable to work full time AND you earn less than a Substantial Gainful amount (SGA). Measure SGA in dollars: Less than $900 a month gross in 2007. Beware: Lots of loop-holes and exceptions here!

2. “You must not only be unable to do your previous work, but also any other type of work considering your age, education, and work experience. It does not matter whether such work exists in your immediate area, whether a specific job vacancy exists, or whether or not you would be hired if you applied for work.”

Translation: The older you are, the less educated you are, the less skilled your jobs were, the better your chances.

Tip: Getting to age 50+ is a big help ... but ... Most disability clients are under 50 and they still win if they persist, at least with expert help. Think TURTLE ... be persistent.

Tip: Education has little impact on approval in most cases. SSA divides between high school grad,not HS grad, limited, and illiterate. College doesn't matter much. (Sssuusshhh, please don't tell this to my kids.) If you are illiterate – you can’t fool me, you’re reading this – that is a big help in getting benefits.

Translation: You can’t just say you have medical problems ... you have to get evidence from doctors, nurses, or hospitals. Once you “establish” your medical problem(s), then your symptoms become a key to disability. Please click on Medical Issues for more information about the medical requirements for disability eligibility.

4. “It is expected that your impairment(s) will either result in death or last for at least 12 months in a row.”

Translation: Not being able to work for just a few months doesn’t cut it. But ... if you do not know if or when you will be able to work ... consider applying. Seek expert advice.

Tip: If you are disabled for more than a year, but later you can return to work, you may collect disability benefits for a “closed period.” IF you apply soon enough.

5. “You must meet the non-medical criteria needed to be insured by the program.”

Translation: There are lots of special rules for both SSDI and SSI disability eligibility. Did you apply at the right time (did you work long enough recently enough)? Do you drink too much or use illegal drugs? Does a court somewhere want you for felony?

SSI disability is for low income, low asset disabled people. There are financial tests. Beware: Non-medical criteria are filled with loop-holes and exceptions. Most are NOT mentioned here.

Did You Pass?

- If yes, I suggest that you go to the Disability Benefits page. Disability, eligibility, security, social, hooray! Or if you want to learn what is involved in a disability application, go to How Do I Apply.

- If not, consider this: A government report found that ½ - repeat ½ - of all the people who could - who should - be found disabled never applied. Your disability eligibility is important. Keep thinking. Keep asking questions. BE THE TURTLE ... be patient.

Still Have Questions? Call me: Jonathan A. Abbott (888) 277-7741.