Your Age And How It Can Affect Your Disability Insurance Claim
People who are older than 50 are defined by Social Security as being of advanced age. This means that they fall into a different category and may have a better chance of qualifying as physically disabled. Why?
The Social Security Administration uses grid rules to guide their claims process. These SSA grid rules are complex. The grids fall into four categories:
- Maximum sustained work capability limited to sedentary work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment
- Maximum sustained work capability limited to light work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment.
- Maximum sustained work capability limited to medium work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment.
- Maximum sustained work capability limited to heavy work as a result of severe medically determinable impairment.
If you are found to be severely medically impaired, Social Security will use one of these grids to determine whether you are disabled or not. The grid rules take many factors into play including your age, your education level and your previous work experience.
If you can still do sedentary work, the SSA uses the grid for people who are limited to sedentary work. If you can still do light work, the SSA uses the grid for people who are limited to light work. And so on for the grids that are designed to be used for medium, heavy or very heavy work.
That brings us to the second sign that you may have a better-than-average claim: medical evidence.
Prove You Cannot Work
If you can demonstrate that you cannot work or perform work that is outside of your trained area of expertise, then the likelihood of getting a disability claim approved increases. The SSA requires disability claimants to prove they have not worked for the last 12 consecutive months. Your employer submits documentation that proves you did not work over the past year, but you should supplement your employers information with copies of your paycheck stubs and monthly bank statements.
The SSA may deny a disability benefits application if you dont provide sufficient evidence to prove your disability prevents you from working for at least 12 months. If you have sufficient medical evidence including documentation from your doctor you will have a higher chance of being awarded disability benefits. This doesnt only mean test results and your physicians report but also how well you are responding to treatment and what the likely outcomes are.
Substantial Evidence Of A Medical Condition
You must provide evidence of a qualifying injury or illness that prevents you from returning to work. That means you must show documentation of your medical condition and the symptoms you experience.
The Social Security Administration provides a list of medical conditions eligible for disability benefits. If your injury or illness doesnt meet these requirements, you could end up with a denied claim.
The medical evidence you should submit with your application to improve your chance of an approved claim includes:
- Diagnostic reports
- Receipts from purchasing prescription medications
- Records from treating physicians
- Imaging test results
- Statements from doctors regarding the injury, symptoms, and necessary medical care
Your records should also contain your diagnosis. If you apply for benefits for a broken leg, but none of the medical documentation mentions your broken leg, the SSA will likely reject your application.
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You Are Earning Less Than The Sga
If you cannot participate in a substantial gainful activity , this is another indication that the SSA may approve your claim. The SSA provides guidelines for determining an applicants minimum monthly SGA based on their disability severity. Federal regulatory standards require a higher SGA for blind applicants, which is set at $2,260 for 2022, compared to $1,350 for non-blind applicants.
Sign #: You Earn Less Than The Monthly Substantial Gainful Activity Salary
A substantial gainful activity is defined by the SSA as a form of employment that pays enough wages for the worker to cover normal living expenses each month. This amount is $1,260 a month for non-blind individuals and $2,110 for blind individuals. This amount can change each year and it shows the administration how much you can work. These numbers are extremely important because the SGA is one of the main factors the administration looks at when deciding if you should be approved for disability.
Of course, low income does not always mean that the applicant is unable to work. So, the SSA evaluates the work environment as well. This goes the other way too. Those claimants who have a higher income can argue that there are other circumstances that should be taken into account. For example, if they work irregular hours, get special assistance or equipment, or work at a job that is suited unconventionally well to their disability. These facts will show that if the job was not so accommodating, the applicant would be paid much less. If you can meet this requirement, its a sign that you might be approved for disability.
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The Basics About Disability Benefits
The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain if you are insured. This means that you worked long enough and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children who meet our requirements for a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources.
While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the nonmedical requirements, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.
Signs Your Disability Claim May Be Approved
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If you filed a Social Security disability claim, there are factors that can improve your chances of the claim being approved. If you have evidence of your injury, proof that you are unable to work, and your income level is below a specific threshold, these are strong signs that your disability claim may be approved.
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The Other Parts Of Medicare
- Medicare Advantage Plan people with Medicare Parts A and Part B can choose to receive all of their health care services through plans that are offered by private companies and approved by Medicare. For more information, we recommend you read Medicare’s How do Medicare Advantage Plans work?
- Medicare Part D helps pay for medications doctors prescribe for treatment. For more information on the enrollment periods for Part D, we recommend you read Medicare’s How to get prescription drug coverage page.
If you receive Medicare and have limited resources and income, you may be eligible for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.
How Long Does It Take To Apply For Disability
Contrary to the claims of the SSA, the application procedure rarely takes less than six months. However, it’s possible to accelerate the application process and acquire a decision within a few months with the help of an experienced security disability attorney, who can also defend your case in court if necessary.
It can be difficult and frustrating to apply for disability benefits, but knowing the facts and understanding how to get your application approved is a good place to start when preparing. Are you interested in learning more about the various programs that help people with disabilities? Explore more about disability benefits from NJDDCs resourcestoday!
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Different Statuses For The Va
When a Veteran appeals a VA decision, it will take some time until they reach the final verdict.
Throughout the process, the VA will regularly update the appeal claim with different statuses to signify where the VA is at in the process.
Different appeal options, such as a supplemental claim, higher-level review, or an appeal to the BVA, will have different statuses that correspond to a specific route.
What Evidence Will I Need To Provide To Support My Claim
You can help to support your VA disability claim by providing documents such as:
- VA medical records and hospital records that relate to your claimed illnesses or injuries or that show your rated disability has gotten worse
- Private medical records and hospital reports that relate to your claimed illnesses or injuries or that show your disability has gotten worse
- Supporting statements youd like to provide from family members, friends, clergy members, law enforcement personnel, or those you served with that can tell us more about your claimed condition and how and when it happened or how it got worse
Depending on the type of claim you file, you may gather supporting documents yourself, or you can ask for our help to gather evidence.
Well also review your discharge papers and service treatment records.
Please note: You dont have to submit any evidence to support your claim, but we may need to schedule a claim exam so we can learn more about your condition.
You should also know that you have up to a year from the date we receive your claim to turn in any evidence. If you start your application and need time to gather more supporting documents, you can save your application and come back later to finish it. Well recognize the date you started your application as your date of claim as long as you complete it within 365 days.
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You Cannot Work For At Least 12 Months
Some claimants believe that they can receive disability payments just because they cannot work for a couple of months. However, that is not the case. To qualify for benefits, you must have a disability that has either lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months. This helps to ensure that disability benefits are reserved for only the most severe cases. So, if you have already missed 12 months of work because of your disability, that is a good sign that your case is likely to be approved. Similarly, if your doctor believes that your condition will last at least 12 months, you can go ahead and apply for benefits.
You Earn Less Than The Sga
The fourth sign that the SSA may approve your disability claim is you are not able to participate in substantial gainful activity. SSA guidelines set the minimum monthly SGA based on the severity of an applicants disability. For 2022, the monthly SGA for a blind applicant is $2,260, while the monthly SGA for non-blind applicants falls to $1,350. Federal regulatory standards require a higher amount of SGA for blind applicants.
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Here Are The Top Five Signs That You Will Be Approved For Disability:
- You meet the technical non-medical eligibility requirements.
- You have a severe medical condition and substantial medical evidence.
- You meet the blue book listing.
- You will not be able to work for at least 12 months or more.
- You are working with a Social Security disability attorney.
Heres the breakdown for each of the signs your disability claim will be approved:
You Cannot Do Any Prior Work
Eligibility for social security disability benefits does not just require a finding that you are unable to perform at your current job the SSA must also find that you cannot work at any of your prior jobs. After determining that your disability precludes you from working at the job you held when you became disabled, the SSA will consider your age, education, experience, and prior work history to determine if there is other work you could perform. If the answer is yes, your application will be denied.
For example, lets say you work in construction and your disability prevents you from operating heavy machinery and lifting heavy objects. However, your work history shows that you held various jobs in administrative or managerial roles, none of which required you to operate machinery or lift heavy objects. The SSA would therefore consider you able to do your prior work and deny your application.
If, however, your disability prevents you from performing even these tasks for example, if you cannot sit for long periods or if you cannot perform administrative tasks like typing or filing the SSA would find that you were unable to perform any of your prior work, and your application would likely be approved.
Obtaining disability benefits can be complicated, but an experienced SSD lawyer can help you when applying. Consider the Good Law Group for your representation call .
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How To Get Your Disability Application Approved
A disability benefit application may be approved if you provided adequate medical evidence to support your claim. Before becoming eligible for disability benefits, you must prove that you cant work for at least 12 months because of your condition. Below are some signs you will be approved for disability benefits:
Will I Be Forced To Go Back To Work
Following a disability claim, you should not be required to go back to work until you are cleared by a doctor. The point of your claim is to provide compensation while you are unable to work. Although a disability claim can offer income during your recovery, when you are able to perform your duties at work you are legally required to return under the guidance of a medical professional.
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You Can Also File A Disability Claim:
File your claim by mail using an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits .
Print the form, fill it out, and send it to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
With the help of a trained professional
You can work with a trained professional called an accredited representative to get help filing a claim for disability compensation.Get help filing your claim
The Ssa Blue Book Lists Your Medical Condition
The SSA publishes an online document titled Disability Evaluation Under Social Security, informally called the Blue Book because it had a blue cover when the SSA printed it.
The Blue Book lists medical conditions and impairments that the SSA considers severe enough to prevent someone from working regardless of age, education, and past work.
Having your medical condition listed in the Blue Book does not guarantee approval of your disability claim. But it is a start and helps significantly.
In addition to listing various conditions, the Blue Book describes the medical criteria you must prove to get approved for disability benefits. For example, it explains what symptoms you must have and test results you need to qualify for disability from arthritis.
Other listings address medical diagnoses such as:
- Mental disability from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or PTSD
- Heart problems such as coronary artery disease or hypertension
- Neurological disorders such as ALS or Multiple Sclerosis
- Stenosis requiring a laminectomy or spinal fusion and continuing to cause pain
These are just a few examples. The complete list of qualifying conditions is available on the SSA website.
And remember, you can still win your claim even if you do not meet a listing. But meeting a listing increases the chance of being approved for disability benefits.
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How Can I Tell If I Am Disabled Enough To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits
You have reached this article because you applied for disability and want to know whether you will be approved for benefits.
Unfortunately, the disability process is challenging, and it can seem like you are not getting anywhere. Indeed, the Social Security Administration denies most disability claims at the initial level.
Your chances get better, however, if you appeal the initial denial. Recent SSA statistics indicate that award rates increase at the administrative hearing level.
Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to know that although no attorney can guarantee that the SSA will approve your disability claim, some factors point to a successful outcome. And knowing this can help you remain optimistic while fighting for your Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits.
This article details the top nine signs that indicate you will get approved for disability. Of course, every case is different, but these signs are a good starting place to gauge if your disability application might be successful.
However, it is not exhaustive. You may still qualify for disability even if you do not meet each of these criteria. But I recommend speaking with a disability attorney to discuss what you can do to improve your chances.
What Conditions Automatically Qualify You For Disability
Some health conditions listed above may automatically qualify you for disability benefits. If your disability is severe, you may qualify for a compassionate allowance. This will allow you to start receiving disability payments right away, rather than waiting for the usual approval process.
You may also automatically qualify for SSDI if you have:
- Endocrine disorders
- Muscular dystrophy
A social security disability attorney can review your case and determine whether your condition should automatically qualify you for disability. Your lawyer can explain how to apply for disability and advise you on what documentation you may need to prove the severity of your condition.
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