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.
It’s Not Easy To Get Ssdi Or Ssi But Our Survey Highlighted Several Factors That Can Increase Your Chances Of Being Approved For Benefits
How hard is it to get Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits if you have a serious medical condition that makes it hard for you to work? We surveyed readers across the U.S. who recently went through the process of applying for SSDI or SSI to learn more about their experiences. Here’s what we learned about the outcome of their disability claims, as well as some of the things that made a difference in their chances of success.
Signs You Will Be Approved For Disability
While it may be a challenge to get approved for disability benefits initially, there are some signs that you will be approved for disability.
While nothing is for certain for sure, there are things that you can do before you send in your application, that can give you a better shot of getting approved for disability initially.
The first sign that you will be approved for disability is that you have enough work credits. In order to qualify for SSDI benefits, you need enough work credits to qualify.
How work credits are calculated is by your age and how long you worked. On average, it is usually around 40 work credits to meet the requirements. You can earn up to 4 work credits per year that youve worked.
The Second sign that you will be approved for disability benefits is that you have a sufficient of medical evidence. Medical evidence to back up your claim that you can no longer work because of your disability is the key to winning a disability claim. The more evidence you have the better. Be sure to include as much medical evidence as you can in your claim.
The third sign that you will be approved for disability, is that you have a condition that is in the SSAs Blue Book. The Blue book is the list of conditions that the SSA has put out that qualify for disability.
The SSA will look at your application and see if your symptoms and ailments match one of its listings in the Blue Book, if it does then you could be approved for disability.
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Why Claims Are Delayed
When an SSD claim is filed, the first step in the approval process is for the package to be assessed by a Disability Determination Service . You may be surprised to learn that these SSD determination agencies are not part of the federal government but are affiliated with your states agencies. The DDS agents are often overwhelmed by a high volume of applications, and they work under pressure to move the caseload along.
Perhaps it makes sense that issuing an initial denial decision is the easiest and fastest way to clear the case from the desk. Theres no doubt these DDS agents work hard under challenging conditions. But statistics show that most Social Security Disability applications are denied initially. The statistics also show that more than half of those initial denials are reversed on appeal and benefits are granted after a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge .
Those figures tend to support the conclusion that most initial claim denials are unfairly and incorrectly decided. Denial means the claim must be appealed and sent to a review office for assignment to a hearing officer.
Unless a claim package was prepared by a trained, experienced professional with a history of successful submissions, the package may be incomplete. An SSD claim package may have an error as small as a misstated date of birth, or an incorrect address. Such trivial errors can result in a rejection due to incomplete or unverified information.
Its All In The Details
Some people do not pay attention to details and would want to turn their application in quickly. This means that they will fail to read through some of the important things. However, you need to take time in understanding the paperwork thoroughly. There are case workers in social security with the task of helping individuals understand the entire process so that they will know what is required of them at every stage. Be sure to ask them many questions and provide them with every single document that they have stated.
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A Doctor Must Medically Diagnose You With A Condition Expected To Last At Least 12 Months Or Result In Death
Do not apply for disability benefits until your doctor confirms that your condition meets the SSAs internal definition of disabled. Then, ask how long you can expect to be out of work before your condition improves again, if at all. This is one of the more confusing disability secrets, since some people are disqualified on the projected unemployment timeframe alone. If your doctor says youll feel better within 8-12 months, the SSA wont approve your disability claim.
List Your Diagnosed Medical Conditions
As part of the SSA’s requirements for Social Security disability insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income , you must be diagnosed with a medical condition by a licensed doctor or psychologist. In addition, to be evaluated for disability, this impairment must have more than a slight effect on your ability to perform work.
If your medical records are not that lengthy or comprehensive, by submitting a medical source statement to Social Security, your doctor can show exactly what medical conditions you have been diagnosed with. Moreover, the doctor can explain what symptoms and limitations you are experiencing from your impairments. The failure of the SSA to properly consider all of your impairments can be a strong basis for any future disability appeal, so it is good to have them all documented in your claim file.
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How Do You Apply For Disability Benefits
There are three ways to apply for Social Security benefits:
- file online atwww.ssa.gov/applyfordisability
- go to your local Social Security office without an appointment.
Before you apply, make sure you have the names and addresses of all doctors and clinics you’ve visited over the last five years. Applying for benefits involves much more than filling out the disability application. Your first step should be making sure that you have sufficient medical records for Social Security to make a decision on your claim. If you’ve been seeing a doctor regularly, have a conversation with your doctor about your limitations , and whether the doctor thinks they rule out full-time work for you. If your doctor agrees, it’s time to apply for disability benefits.
If you haven’t been seeing a doctor, it’s time to start. As mentioned above, you need to have medical records that support your claim, including your diagnoses, your limitations, your test results, and your treatment plans. Once you’ve had several doctors’ appointments, ask if your doctor thinks your limitations are disabling and about your long-term prospects for work. Only then should you apply for disability.
Does A Medical Condition Have To Be In The Blue Book
A Social Security disability claimant doesnt even have to have an impairment that is listed in the Social Security disability blue book to be awarded disability benefits. For instance, migraine headaches are not included in the blue book, but if a claimants migraines are severe enough and are well documented, the SSA may grant disability benefits if the migraines make it impossible for the disability applicant to work a full-time job. The keys here are that the condition be a medically determinable impairment and that it reduces someones RFC enough so that they cant do their prior job or any job. In this case, an applicant could qualify for benefits under a medical-vocational allowance. Other common impairments that arent listed in Social Securitys blue book include carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia,chronic regional pain syndrome,reflex sympathetic dystrophy, celiac disease, and degenerative disc disease.
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How Much Work Do You Need
In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough and recently enough under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits.
Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year.
The amount needed for a work credit changes from year to year. In 2021, for example, you earn one credit for each $1,470 in wages or self-employment income. When you’ve earned $5,880, you’ve earned your four credits for the year.
The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
For more information on whether you qualify, refer to How You Earn Credits.
How To Get Your Social Security Disability Approved Fast
Getting approved for SSDI can be a very long, drawn-out process with months waiting before each decision followed by reconsideration and appeal. Most people do not have the means to wait for that long without help but feel that they also cannot afford someone to help them through the process. There are some important things you can do to speed up the SSDI process and get your benefits started sooner.
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Is There A Way To Get Automatically Approved For Ssi And Social Security Disability
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Social Security Disability Evaluation Process
While there are some conditions that the Social Security Administration considers so severe that they automatically render an applicant disabled, many conditions require careful screening, including answering these five questions:
In addition, qualifying conditions must be expected to last at least one year or result in death.
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How Much Should I Expect From The Ssa After My Social Security Disability Approval
Your lifetime work earnings determine how much money you qualify for each month in Social Security disability benefits. The SSA calculates your maximum monthly benefit amount using your:
Depending on your earnings record, SSDI recipients may be able to receive up to $3,011 per month in benefits.
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What Evidence Do You Need For Your Application
The evidence you gather for your SSI and SSDI applications are similar to that for your VA disability claim.
Be sure to have evidence, including:
- Medical records
- Diagnostic records proving your disability
- List of medications
- List of treating physicians and medical facilities
- Work history from the past 15 years
You will also need personal documents including your original birth certificate and Social Security card when applying. If you have questions about specific evidence to gather, call your local Social Security office.
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Social Security Disability Income For People With Cancer
Social Security Disability Income is a federal disability insurance benefit earned by people who have worked and paid into Social Security. Its only available to people who have disabilities that keep them from working. If you have cancer, you may be able to have your SSDI application processed more quickly
Your Disability Must Specifically Make You Unable To Perform Your Usual Job Duties Regularly For 40 Hours A Week
This is one of the trickier disability secrets, since some jobs are easier to do than others once youre disabled. But if you can still perform the tasks listed in your job description, you likely wont qualify for monthly benefits. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, your employer must provide Reasonable Accommodation for disabled employees.
One of the biggest disability secrets people ask about is, How can I prove Im disabled during my DDS exam? The answer is simple, actually! If you drop a pencil on the floor and cannot pick it up without help, youre disabled. And if you cant walk across a room without assistance, youre disabled. Finally, if you must alternate sitting and standing throughout the day or cannot lift anything heavier than 5 lbs., then youre disabled. Of all disability secrets we know, this one may be the most valuable!
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Seek Legal Representation From A Social Security Disability Attorney
Its no secret that SSDI benefits are hard to obtain, which is why its strongly recommended that you dont apply for these benefits without a skilled attorneys help. If you are disabled, seek legal representation from the Social Security disability attorneys at Carlson Meissner Hart & Hayslett as soon as possible. With over 125 years of combined legal experience, our team knows what it takes to reach the best possible outcome in your case. Our results speak for themselveswe have successfully won over $50 million in Social Security benefits for our clients.
Contact our law firm now to schedule a free consultation regarding your case.
Keeping A Disability Diary Can Help You Get Ssd Approved
When you live with a disabling impairment, you encounter situations in your daily routine in which you experience pain, or you are unable to complete a task because of your limited range of motion, or because you find it too difficult to climb the staircase or walk the distance. When this occurs, note the date and time, what happened, and who you were with.
These daily incidents are important and should be reported to your doctor at your next visit. If you dont write them down, you may forget to mention them. Not only does this information help the doctor understand your symptoms and better diagnose you, but it also provides the Social Security Disability claim examiner with the details they need to verify your disability.
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What Conditions Automatically Qualify You For Ssdi
Some conditions automatically qualify for disability benefits if you have a confirmed diagnosis. The Compassionate Allowances List Acute leukemia. Lou Gehrigs disease Stage IV breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer. Gallbladder cancer. Early-onset Alzheimers disease. Small cell lung cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma.
What Are Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security disability benefits come from payroll deductions required by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act to cover the cost of Social Security benefits such as retirement, as well as spousal and survivor benefits. Some of this funding goes into the Disability Insurance Trust Fund and pays for disability benefits.
According to the Social Security website, to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must have worked a certain length of time in jobs covered by Social Security. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years, ending with the year when you became disabled. You must also have a medical condition that meets Social Securitys definition of disability.
Social Security Disability Insurance should not be confused with Supplemental Security Income , which pays benefits to those who have financial needs regardless of their work history. Although these two names sound similar, the qualifications to get the payments and what you might receive are very different.
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