Do I Qualify for Disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a program in place for individuals who have become disabled and who are, by virtue of those disabilities, unable to provide incomes for themselves and their families. The program is called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and payments through the program are available if you have a long-term disability that significantly impacts your life. To determine if you may qualify for SSDI on the basis of your disability, consider these factors. 

Requirements to Qualify for SSDI Benefits

The first requirement for SSDI benefits is working long enough in a qualified position. The work requirements will vary depending on your age at the time you become disabled. Depending on your age when disabled, for example, it may be required that you have worked for 5 out of the 10 years before becoming disabled. If you have been working steadily since age 18, you shouldn't have a problem meeting the work history requirement. However, if you have a very short or spotty work history, you will need to confirm with the SSA or a lawyer to determine exactly how many working hours are required of you. 

The next requirement is that your disability either is long-term or is expected to be fatal. "Long-term" is defined as lasting for 12 months or more. 

Next you must demonstrate your disability is sufficiently severe that it should qualify you for benefits. 

Judging the Severity of Your Disability

There are two different methods used to prove to the SSA that your illness or disability is severe enough to entitle you to benefits. 

The "Blue Book Method"

The SSA has compiled a list of disabilities or impairments that are generally considered to be severe enough to qualify applicants for benefits. The list of impairments is often called the "blue book," and it contains not only the list of covered disabilities but also the criteria you must meet to qualify on the basis of one of those disabilities.

For example, Chapter 12 deals with qualifying on the basis of mental health. If you wish to qualify on the basis of depression, this chapter will spell out what symptoms of depression you actually need to have medical proof of. It is not enough to say "I'm depressed." You would have to exhibit the specific symptoms (suicidal thoughts, paranoia and so forth) at the required time duration to qualify on the basis of that condition.

You should first determine whether your impairment is listed. If so, look at what symptoms you must exhibit by reviewing the section of the blue book related to that impairment. Then you will need to make sure you can provide sufficient medical proof of those particular symptoms. 

Medical Equivalence

If your disability isn't listed or if it is listed but your symptoms don't match those required by the blue book, you may still be able to qualify. You will, however, have to prove your particular problem is just as disabling as the problems listed. This means you must show it has an equally significant impact on many of your daily activities as the other ailments listed. Because medical equivalence can be harder to prove, you'll need lots of medical evidence to back up your claim. 

Getting Help

Many people are denied benefits from the SSA, in part due to high instances of SSDI fraud. In order to maximize the chances of submitting a successful application, you should consider speaking with a qualified and experienced attorney for guidance and advice.