A person who is injured or has a medical condition that prevents them from working might be told to file for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability (SSD) insurance. It’s imperative that anyone who’s going to file understands what kinds of conditions might meet the requirements for the programs. While there are many specific conditions that will meet the test, there are a few key points to qualifying for Social Security programs.
First, you must have a condition that has already lasted for a year or that is expected to last at least one year. The only exception to this is if the condition is terminal and will result in your passing away.
Second, the condition must prevent you from doing the work you’ve been doing. Typically, this means that there aren’t reasonable accommodations that will help you successfully complete your job duties.
Third, you can’t do other work because of your condition. This is a strict requirement because it’s assumed the people who can do other work will be able to do so.
An important consideration for anyone who feels they need to apply is that the Social Security Administration programs are only for people who have full disabilities. You won’t qualify for them if you have a partial disability or a short-term disability.
If you file for benefits, you’ll have to show that you’re disabled through your medical records. You may also have to go through an evaluation process through Social Security to verify this. There’s a chance that your application will be denied, which can lead to an appeal if you believe that the decision was made in error.