SSDRC




What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI?

How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI?

If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits?

How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition?

What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits

Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits

How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing

If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare?

How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid?

Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process

How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability?

What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia

Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease

Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression?

Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability

What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability Status

Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on

Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts


How Disabling Does A Condition Have To Be For Social Security Disability, SSDI Benefits?


How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

 
The Social Security definition of disability explains how disabling a condition has to be to receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) or SSI benefits based on disability.

The definition of disability holds that for a person to be considered disabled, they must have a medically determinable impairment that has prevented them from working and earning a substantial and gainful income for twelve continuous months; or have an impairment that is expected to prevent this for twelve months; or is expected to result in their death.

Any mental or medical condition that meets the definition is considered to be a severe impairment. However, there are many individuals with severe impairments who are working full time jobs in spite of their conditions. Social Security considers not only the severity of an individual’s disabling condition but how restrictive their residual functional capacity (what they can still do even with their condition) is when making a disability determination.

Social Security establishes a monthly earnings amount that it considers to equate to substantial gainful work activity every year. If an individual is able to earn over the SGA monthly earnings amount without special work considerations (some employers allow employees to rest more, sit more, take more time off, or even let them earn their pay but produce less work), their disability claim will be denied without a being sent to a disability examiner at disability determination services for a medical determination.

Social Security uses medical records, disability questionnaires (both from the applicant and their third party contact), and any other evidence that might help them determine an individual’s residual functional capacity assessment when making a disability determination.

If an individual’s condition causes their capacity assessment to be so restrictive that they cannot engage in gainful work activity, they may be eligible for disability benefits.

Social Security should never be confused with partial disability programs, workman’s compensation, short-term disability, or a "percentage of loss disability program" such as veteran’s disability. Social Security disability is a total disability program and that means an individual’s impairment has to be so disabling that they are not able to work at a former job or at any other type of job that their age, education, and skills might make them eligible for.














Return to:  SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page












Individual Questions and Answers


  • Does social security contact your former work employers when you file for disability?

  • How Long Does A Social Security Disability Appeal Take?

  • If Social Security Disability sends you to an Exam, will it be done by your doctor?

  • After you file for SSD, the Disability Examiner may contact you for additional information

  • Applying for disability benefits in California

  • Social Security Disability Application Online

  • Social Security Disability Denied — The Reasons Why

  • Total Disability - Will social security try to determine if a person is totally disabled?

  • How does Social Security Disability Representation work?

  • Do Disability Lawyers Require A Retainer?

  • What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI?

  • What Will a Disability Lawyer Do to Win a Social Security Case?

  • Filing for SSI Disability

  • Medicare and Social Security Disability - Basic Facts

  • How can you speed up a Social Security Disability case?

  • Are Social Security Disability Claims Based On Back Pain Usually Turned Down?

  • What is protective filing for social security disability or SSI ?

  • How to Apply for Disability, What medical conditions can you apply for disability for ?

  • What is a disability according to the Social Security Administration?

  • Winning Social Security Disability Benefits For Mental Disorders

  • How Long Will My Case Be at the Social Security Hearing Office Before It gets Scheduled?

  • Disability Attorneys- Will they do your forms for you?

  • Can I lose my disability benefits at some point ?

  • The Social Security Disability and SSI Appeal Process

  • How Does Social Security Decide If You Are Disabled Or Not?

  • How long does it take to get a decision on Social Security disability or SSI ?

  • Social Security Disability Claims and Medical Exams

  • What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits?

  • How Do I Apply For Disability- What Is The First Step?

  • How To Get SSDI Approved

  • Does Your Last Job Determine If You Receive A Social Security or SSI Award?

  • How long does it take to get an SSI decision ?

  • Is Social Security required to give you a decision on your disability case in a certain amount of time?

  • What are the rules for applying for disability?

  • Does Social Security Disability Come With Medicaid Benefits?

  • For Disability, What Does It Mean When A person Can Only Do Sedentary Work?

  • Can you win your Disability Case by Yourself?

  • Social Security Disability Medical Review

  • Appearing at the ALJ Hearing for Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits

  • How the Decision on a Disability Application or Appeal Under SSDI or SSI is Made

  • Getting Denied for Disability Benefits

  • If I get disability will my children receive benefits ?

  • What is the process if you are denied and get an SSI Denial or Social Security Disability Denial?

  • Social Security Disability Requirements

  • Filing for Social Security disability- what to bring when you apply

  • Social Security Administration Physical Consultative Exam (CE)

  • Can an adult who has been to college but hasn't worked for a long time get Disability Benefits?

  • Disability Attorney - Does Social Security pay the fee?

  • How do you apply for disability for your children ?

  • There are different Methods of Eligibility for Social Security Disability Children Benefits

  • If you are Denied for Disability, Should you File a new Application or File an Appeal of the Denial?

  • How will Social Security find you disabled?

  • Information for Winning Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits

  • How does Social Security consider lupus as a disability?

  • If you appeal your Social Security disability claims how long does it take to receive a decision ?

  • Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Nevada

  • Is multiple sclerosis considered a disability by Social Security?

  • If my medical condition keeps me from working will I get Social Security disability ?
























    SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

    The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

    Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

    Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

    Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

    Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials