5 Things to Know Before Applying for Disability Benefits

July 22, 2015
Dayes Law Firm

According to the Council for Disability Awareness, 64 percent of working Americans believe that they have at most a two percent chance of becoming disabled for more than three months at some point during their career.

Unfortunately, that number is not realistic. The odds that a 20-year-old will become disabled before retirement are one in four, or 25 percent. That shocking number means that sometimes the one thing you never think would happen to you does happen.

If you are within 12 percent of the American population living with a disability and have been denied the benefits you need, contact the Phoenix, AZ based Social Security disability (SSD) benefits lawyers at Dayes Law Firm PC today.

Call 1-800-503-2000 for a free consultation.

If the unwanted does happen and you need the support of Social Security disability benefits, there are five important facts you should know before applying for benefits that can help your application be approved.

  1. Your income and the number of years you have worked matter. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires that applicants have worked a minimum amount of time, depending on their age, and paid into Social Security. Your monthly income must also not exceed $1,090 or $1,820 if you are blind.
  2. Your condition must be considered severe. To qualify for SSD, your condition must be so debilitating that you can no longer perform work-related activities. Your condition must also last a minimum of 12 months.
  3. Is your condition listed in the Social Security blue book of disabling conditions? The SSA maintains a blue book that lists the conditions that fall into its strict definition of a disability. However, if your specific condition is not listed, you can still qualify for benefits if you are able to prove that your impairments limit your ability to work.
  4. You cannot do the work you held previously. You must prove through medical evidence that your condition prohibits you from performing the work-related activities from your most recent job.
  5. You are unable to perform any other type of work. Based on your age, medical condition, past education, work experience and work skills, the SSA will determine if you are able to perform any other type of related work.

If you were denied Social Security disability benefits, our experienced team of legal professionals can closely examine your claim and denial notice to put together a strong appeal that will get you the benefits you need.

Call 1-800-503-2000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form to get started.