There are protections in place for people who lose their ability to work. Some companies offer private disability insurance as a benefit of employment. Additionally, all legally-employed workers make contributions to Social Security through payroll taxes. When a worker develops a disabling medical condition, they may be able to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Provided that they meet the basic requirements for SSDI benefits, they can receive a monthly payment until they are old enough to retire.
Every application for SSDI benefits is subject to intense scrutiny. Those that do not meet the standards maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA) are likely to get rejected. The following are the three main requirements for SSDI benefits eligibility.
A debilitating medical condition
Some medical conditions May prevent someone from working their current job without meeting the necessary standard for SSDI benefits. Broken bones may force people to take a leave of absence until they heal, but they are not severe enough to prevent all forms of gainful employment. A condition must be severe enough to limit a worker’s ability to support themselves for them to qualify for SSDI benefits. The greater the functional impact a condition has on an applicant, the better their chance of obtaining benefits.
A long-term disability
Some conditions that cause total disability only have a short-term impact on someone’s life. Even a condition that leaves someone on life support might pass after a few weeks, allowing them to recover within a few months. For an applicant to be eligible for SSDI benefits, they typically need proof that their condition should last at least a year or possibly for the rest of their life. Even the most disabling condition may not qualify someone for benefits if they are likely to recover within a few months.
Adequate work credits
The SSA awards workers credits based on the amount of taxable income they earn. Workers can accrue up to four credits each year. Typically, those seeking SSDI benefits need to have a minimum of 40 credits on record with the SSA. Usually, they need to have accumulated at least 20 of those credits within the last 10 years to qualify.
Provided that a particular situation meets those standards, a worker may be eligible for benefits to help them cover basic living expenses when they can no longer work. Learning about the requirements for SSDI benefits can help people evaluate their eligibility. However, many people need assistance applying and might even need to appeal a denied claim to get the benefits that they deserve.
