How the U.S. Social Security Administration defines “disability”

On Behalf of | May 19, 2021 | Social Security Disability |

When you apply for Social Security Disability benefits and the U.S. Social Security Administration denies your claim, you may feel anxious and frustrated. However, before you give up hope, you may want to think about appealing the decision. Many applicants with denied claims receive approval for benefits after mounting appeals. The likelihood of your appeal proving successful depends in large part on your ability to meet the SSA’s narrow definition of “disabled.”

How does the SSA determine whether you have a disability serious enough to warrant SSDI payments?

Factors that determine SSDI eligibility

To figure out whether to approve you for SSDI, the SSA considers whether you are able to work in any capacity. You must have a complete, rather than partial, disability to potentially qualify for benefits. If you work and pull in a certain amount each month, it may disqualify you from consideration. The SSA also considers whether your condition is severe and whether it appears on a list it maintains of qualifying conditions before making a decision.

Additional qualification terms

You may receive approval for SSDI benefits if the SSA decides you are not able to readjust your duties or workload to make them more manageable for you. The SSA also has to decide that your disability is unlikely to improve, meaning the administration believes it is going to last at least a year or lead to your death.

If you are unsuccessful in applying for SSDI or appealing your denied SSDI claim, you may have other options that may be available to individuals with short-term disabilities.

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