Which Medical Conditions Are Likely To Qualify For Disability
While any of the above medical conditions are SSDI and SSI qualifying disabilities, some medical conditions are more likely to lead to an approval of benefits than others. We recently surveyed our readers about their experiences in applying for disability benefits and compared their answers to government statistics. For details, see our article on survey statistics on getting Social Security disability for common medical conditions.
Completing The Online Disability Benefit Application
- After entering and saving demographic information about the applicant, a re-entry number is provided. This sets a protective filing date for both SSI and SSDI
- Tip: Formerly, SSA provided both an application number and re-entry number for online applications. Beginning January 2014, only one re-entry number is provided and needed to access the online application forms
- If you lose the re-entry number, SSA employees cannot access the information.
- Proceeding beyond the re-entry number screen will trigger the local SSA field office to move forward with the application and set an interview date to complete the application
- Note: The applicant should not proceed beyond the re-entry number screen until the case manager is ready to submit the complete SOAR application packet
How Long Does It Take To Be Approved
SSA’s disability determination process, for adults or children, can take a long time.
SSA has developed a fast-track application process for diseases or conditions clearly meets SSA’s standard for disability. Examples include acute leukemia, Lou Gehrigs disease , and pancreatic cancer. A list of these conditions is on the SSA website.
SSA may give you up to 6 months of SSI benefits right away in severe situations if a final approval is highly likely. Qualifying conditions can be found on the SSA website. Examples include:
- Removal of a leg at the hip
- Total deafness
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Priority Processing Time For Terminal Illnesses
Applications from anyone with a terminal illness receive priority handling. A terminal illness is a disease state that cannot be cured or adequately treated and is reasonably expected to result in death within 6 months.
Our goal is to make a decision within 5 business days of receiving a complete Terminal Illness Application, including a complete Terminal Illness Medical Attestation form .
You Must Already Have 40 Social Security Work Credits And Paid Fica Taxes For 5
Insufficient work history is another one of those disability secrets that confuses many people who receive a technical denial letter. Look at it this way: If youre disabled and cannot work, youre technically asking the SSA for early retirement withdrawals. If youve only worked four years full-time in the last decade, thats technically not enough credits to make you eligible. Or maybe you worked full-time for 22 years, but your employer didnt withhold Social Security taxes from all your paychecks.
Heres another example: Youre a federal employee whose government pension automatically disqualifies you from receiving Social Security disability insurance checks. Your monthly SSDI check also depends on how long you worked as well as your paychecks . In any given year, you can earn a maximum of four Social Security work credits with full-time employment. Plus, the amount you need to earn one work credit increases each year to keep pace with increasing average wages. In 2019, youll get one Social Security work credit for every $1,360 you earn, according to the SSA.
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Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits
The Canada Pension Plan provides monthly payments to people who contribute to the plan during their working years.
You may be eligible for CPP disability benefits if:
- you contributed to the CPP for a certain number of years
- you’re under 65 years old
- you have a severe and prolonged mental or physical disability
- your disability prevents you from working on a regular basis
The benefits include payments to children of a person with a disability.
Apply as early as possible if you think you’re eligible for CPP disability benefits. Quebec residents may be eligible for a similar program called the Quebec Pension Plan . It may take several months to process your application.
If you applied for CPP or QPP disability benefits and were told that you’re not eligible, you can ask to have your application reviewed or considered again.
Once you reach age 65, your CPP disability benefit will automatically change to regular CPP payments. Your regular CPP payments may be less than the CPP disability payments you got before.
If so, consider:
Disability Benefits For Veterans
You may be eligible for disability benefits if you’re on disability from your service in the Canadian Armed Forces or Merchant Navy.
You may get social assistance payments from:
- your province or territory
- your First Nation
These payments will depend on your household income, savings and investments.
You may also be eligible for health-related benefits from your province or territory. These benefits may include benefits that help cover the cost of:
- medications
- medical aids or devices
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Appeal Hearings In Virginia
There are 5 offices and 50 Administrative Law Judges to serve the people of Virginia with disability appeal hearings. Virginia does not range well among the national averages. Applicants have a higher chance of denial and generally have to wait longer for a hearing date. This means it is very important that an application is filled out properly the first time to prevent a denial. An applicant can significant increase his or her chances for approval with the help of representation.
I Was Turned Down For Ssi Benefits Is There Anything I Can Do
If you were turned down for SSI, you have to the right to ask SSA to reconsider its decision. Many SSI applications are approved on appeal. If you ask SSA to reconsider, it will review its decision. You must fill out a Request for Reconsideration form which you can get at your local office, by calling their toll-free phone number or here. SSA must receive the form within 60 days plus five days for mailing of the date you received the notice of denial, or you must have a good reason if you request reconsideration late.
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How To Apply For Disability Benefits
- Disability Forms Permits and Benefits
- How to Apply for Disability Benefits
Here you can get information about How to Apply for Disability Benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal program designed to protect you in case you lose the cappotential to paintings because of incapacity.
You and your company pay into this system the entire time you are working. If you end up disabled, youll be eligible for benefits provided you may show your incapacity renders you not able to carry out any of the paintings you formerly performed. You additionally ought to show theres no different paintings to be had that you may learn to do. Because an incapacity application can take between 3 and 5 months to process, the Social Security Administration recommends you practice for benefits as quickly feasible once you end up disabled.
When To Apply For Ssi
Social Security does not charge an application fee, so apply for SSI as soon as you believe that you or your child may qualify for benefits. A delay may cause you to lose money because the date you file an application becomes the effective date for payment of benefits once it is approved. If you call to schedule an appointment to apply for benefits, Social Security will use the date of the call as the effective date as long as you file an application within 60 days from the date of the call.
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How Do You Get Disability For Listed Medical Conditions
If your disability is listed in Social Security’s Listing of Impairments, the first step is to get a diagnosis of the condition from your doctor. A mere diagnosis will get you an automatic disability approval for only a few conditions, however, like ALS, an organ transplant, or certain serious cancers, such as esophageal cancer, mucosal melanoma, anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland, or small-cell carcinoma . For all other conditions, the next step is to determine if your medical condition meets the specific criteria for that condition. The listing requirements are often quite complex our illness-specific articles simplify the medical criteria in the listings so that you can understand whether your condition will qualify for disability.
If you haven’t had the clinical or laboratory tests required in the listing, you can ask your doctor to perform them. Or you can wait for the SSA to pay for a consultative exam, but this makes your claim take longer. It’s generally better if the test results are already in your medical record before you apply. Then you can check to see if your test results meet the requirements of the listing, and if they match the criteria or are close, you can apply for disability.
What Will You Need When You Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits
While SSDI and SSI are separate, both are managed by the SSA, and both programs require a long, complicated, and sometimes-baffling application process.
You will need a lawyers help. When you apply for SSDI or SSI benefits, you will need to attach the:
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What You Need In Order To Apply For Ssi
Social Security recommends that you have the following information or documentation available to facilitate completion of an application for SSI benefits:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or that you are eligible as a noncitizen.
- A birth certificate or other proof of age.
- Information about income and assets.
- A bank account and other financial institution records.
- The names, addresses, and phone numbers of health care providers for individuals applying for benefits as blind or disabled.
Do not delay applying for benefits just because you may be unable to locate records or information.
Pay Attention To The Details
Disability representatives are a great source of information on the topic, but do your own research as well, particularly with regard to how you can improve your experience through doctor support and documentation of the effects from your disability. This kind of information is crucial for a disability claim, whether or not your medical condition is connected to COVID-19.
With that in mind, SSDI claims often are denied because the application contains mistakes or provides incomplete information, even if the condition would otherwise be approved. Contacting a disability representative is the best way to ensure that your application is completed correctly, giving you a better chance at receiving an approval and avoiding the time-consuming appeals process or a denial.
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A California Disability Lawyer Goes To The Next Level
And that next level is appeals. Social Security denies a majority of first-time SSDI applicants. That doesnt mean your claim for benefits is completely over. You can appeal Social Securitys decision.
However, this means you might potentially have to go through all four levels of appeal:
- Request for Reconsideration
- Appeals Council
- United States District Court
If the application process looks difficult, the appeals process is even worse. When you apply for SSDI by yourself, you stand alone as you start the first step. You can hire an attorney at this point. However, your attorney is starting at a disadvantage.
Generally, its better to have a California disability lawyer work on your case from the very start. Applying for benefits on your own could actually delay your claim if you have to appeal a denial of benefits.
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How Do I Apply For Ssi
You can schedule an appointment with a local Social Security office to file an application for SSI. Call from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday or contact your local Social Security office.
You may be able to apply for SSI online if you meet certain requirements.
You will need to provide a lot of information when you file an application for SSI. This is a helpful checklist that will help you get together the information you will need to provide when you apply.
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Social Security Disability Benefits: An Overview
The Social Security Administration pays disability benefits under two programs:
Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI provides disability benefits to blind or disabled individuals who are insured based on federal insurance contributions paid into the Social Security Trust Fund. Certain family members can also receive benefits based on a worker’s contributions.Supplemental Security Income SSI provides benefits to individuals who are disabled, blind or elderly, with limited income and resources, including children under age 18, who are disabled, blind or elderly.
The medical requirements that determine who is eligible for disability payments are the same under both programs. Under the Social Security system, disability payments are based on inability to work. Individuals are considered “disabled” if they are unable to do any kind of work and their disabilities are expected to last for at least twelve months or result in death.
If You Do Not Qualify Financially For Income Support
If your caseworker tells you that you do not qualify financially for Income Support, you can ask to have the decision reviewed. This is first step in the appeal process and is called an Internal Review.
While the review takes place, you may continue with part two of the application process : looking at your disability status.
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The Benefits Of Getting Legal Representation
You can have an attorney or advocate represent your case at any stage of the process. Because the application process is so overwhelming and confusing for many applicants, you may want to speak with a disability attorney before even applying.
Having a the aid of an advocate or attorney who practices Social Security Disability law can go a long way in increasing the chances of your claims approval. An attorney or advocate can help you in numerous ways, from ensuring your application was filled out correctly, to submitting new medical evidence to the SSA, to defending your claim in court if needed.
Finally, if youre worried about affording an attorney, you should know that an attorney or advocate is not paid unless you win your claim. If you win your Social Security disability claim and you are entitled to back pay, an attorney could receive 25% of your back pay, or $6,000, whichever is less. You will never need to pay an attorney out of pocket, nor will your monthly benefits be affected by working with an attorney.
Signing The Online Application
You will have a chance to review your answers and make changes, if needed. Once youve filled everything out, we will ask you to confirm that your answers are true to the best of your knowledge.
The last step is to sign the online application by agreeing to the signature terms and then clicking Submit Now. You can check the status of your submitted application using a confirmation number we provide.
If someone else submits the online application on your behalf, one of our representatives will contact you by phone to:
- Verify your intent to file.
- Confirm the information provided.
- Obtain any additional information needed.
- Offer you the opportunity to provide your verbal consent to sign the application.
We will also mail you a paper copy of the Application Summary for your records.
Read more about Helping Someone Apply Online.
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The Bottom Line On Ssdi Today
Applying for SSDI can be a lengthy and involved process, but the benefits it can offer are more than worth the effort. The pandemic has undoubtedly added new obstacles for claimants, but they arent insurmountable.
Keeping up-to-date records of your medical conditions or symptoms, staying informed about the classification of COVID-19 long-haulers, and working with a disability representative are all simple and immediate steps you can take today to aid in the process of applying for SSDI, protecting both your income and your future.
What Is Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income is a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to people who are in need and meet income eligibility. SSI is for people who are 65 or older as well as for blind or disabled people of any age, including children with physical disabilities or mental disabilities.
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Social Securitys Compassionate Allowance List
Another way to have your disability claim expedited is by having a medical condition that is on the Compassionate Allowance List . Currently, there are about 240 medical conditions on that list.
| Compassionate Allowances Conditions |
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Editors note: If you do not see your medical condition on the list above you can submit a new condition to the Social Security Administration for consideration.
The medical conditions on the Compassionate Allowance List are used to quickly identify applicants who clearly meet the standard for disability benefits. If you have a condition on this list be sure to provide medical documents as proof because this will help your case.