When to apply for disability is a difficult decision that is going to vary from person-to-person, but understanding how to qualify for benefits can help you better understand if it’s time to file an application.
The first thing to keep in mind is that in order to qualify for disability benefits, you have to have stopped working or had your wages drop significantly so that you’re essentially part-time.
Some people will tell me that even though they’re very ill they need to keep working, and while there can be some arguments around that, if you’re working full-time or close to it, it is unfortunately impossible to qualify for disability regardless of your medical condition.
The second thing to remember is that the medically determinable impairment that is keeping you from working must last or be expected to last 12 consecutive months, or result in death. This issue arises when someone has a surgery or other treatment that is expected to take them off work for several months.
Unfortunately, if your recovery time is less than a year, you cannot qualify for disability. However, keep in mind that if issues keep arising during your recovery that cause you to be off work for more than a year, at that point, you would definitely want to consider applying for disability.
Finally, another important thing to keep in mind when applying for disability is that Social Security disability benefits are only awarded if medical conditions are keeping you from working. Sometimes, potential clients will tell me they’ve been laid off and just can’t find a job near them or they don’t have transportation to a job.
While I understand how frustrating that can be, Social Security’s rules do not take those issues into account in determining disability.
If you think it may be time to apply for disability benefits, an experienced attorney in the field can answer any other questions you have about whether it’s time to file for disability.
