How do applicants qualify for social security disability?

Social Security Disability compensates workers in Charlotte, North Carolina, who no longer work physically as they did before. It differs from Supplemental Security insurance, which gets funded by public taxes. Applicants must meet certain requirements to qualify for SSD.

Work Requirements

An applicant has to meet the work requirements for Social Security Disability. The applicant needs a certain number of work credits that are based on the date of the onset of the disability.

They also must have worked five out of the last 10 years to earn four credits per year to equal 20 quarters and earned at least $1,360 per quarter. Younger applicants under 31 may not have sufficient work credits for full benefits. However, applicants under 24 may be eligible for SSDI if they earned six credits and worked three years prior to the disability.

Qualifying Medical Conditions

To qualify, the condition has to keep the applicant from working for at least 12 months. There could be exceptions, as in the cases of blindness, terminal illness or low vision. The Social Security Administration makes decisions based on the Blue Book, which lists the qualifying conditions.

Qualifying conditions usually do not include temporary issues such as a broken bone or whiplash. The list of qualifying conditions typically includes chronic issues such as coronary artery disease, immune system disorder, respiratory illnesses, sensory issues, blood disorders and digestive issues such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Applicants who apply within a few weeks of the disability onset may be denied initially so that the SSDA can determine if the condition is permanent or not. Conditions not on the list may qualify if the condition remains permanent.

Applicants are frequently denied Social Security Disability benefits even for legitimate claims. They should receive a letter explaining the denial, and they have the right to appeal. An attorney may be able to guide them through the appeal process.