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What has to happen for a person to be considered disabled?

by | Sep 21, 2016 | SSD - Social Security Disability Process And Benefits |

Sometimes, people assume that those on disability don’t work to earn that money. The truth is that Social Security disability is a social insurance program. This program is paid for when you work, so if you work for 10 years and then have to go on Social Security disability, you’ve been paying into the program in exchange for insurance protection. If you can no longer work because of a disability, then the program is there to help you replace some of your lost income. Often the help of an attorney is critical to receiving these deserved benefits.

To meet the requirements to be considered disabled by the Social Security Administration, you must show that you can’t work due to your medical condition. That condition must be expected to last at least a year or result in death. Your medical condition must prevent you from working in the same way that you did in the past and prevent you from adjusting the kind of work you do. If you can adjust the kind of work you’re able to do and get a job doing something else, then Social Security disability might not be awarded to you.

Those who receive Social Security disability payments are some of the most seriously disabled people in the United States. Records show that these individuals are often terminal or have a higher likelihood of passing away within the next year than others in their same age range. For example, of those who received disability benefits at 55, the Social Security Administration reports that one in seven women will die within five years, while one in five men will die within five years.

Source: Social Security Administration, “Facts,” accessed Sep. 21, 2016

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