If you’re suffering from any type of disability, it can get pretty hard to keep working like other people that don’t have to face the challenges that you do. You might not be able to put in the same hours as others,, and you can’t even stop working despite its toll on you. However, you don’t have to struggle the same way forever; there are social security programs that provide people with disability benefits. There are a few basic requirements that make you qualified for receiving disability benefits. If you’ve been in a job for the most part of your life, meeting those requirements becomes a little easier.
You might be totally unaware of what needs to be done so that you can get a little help from the government. This supplemental income will help you to drastically improve the quality of your life and it can keep you stress-free as well. In this article, we’re going to discuss these issues in a little more detail so that you have no doubts remaining in your mind. So let’s find out how you can make the most of these benefits as well, and then you can start rebuilding your life.
1. Past Records
All of your previous records will be dug up to find out whether you qualify for the disability benefits or not. The government is very serious about who gets benefits and who doesn’t, and this is why it’s critical that you check your own records as well. To qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), you need to have worked for five out of the past ten years. If a quarter is to be counted, then you must’ve made $1,360 during that quarter, or else it won’t be counted. The ten years are counted from the date of your application, and there are no exceptions at all. There’s not much you can do about this problem now, however, there are a few other solutions that we’ll be discussing.
2. Medical Criteria
Your disability must match the criteria put forth by the government. Otherwise, you won’t get any benefits at all. There are a lot of details that concern this criterion, and you should definitely browse through them yourself.
Most rules say that your disability shouldn’t be short-term; what this means is that you need to be diagnosed as incapable of working for at least a year or more. No partial disabilities are covered and even if you do have a serious disability that isn’t mentioned, you won’t be given any benefits at all. This is something that can be and should be contested by the aggrieved parties, even the social security disability appeals in Morristown, TN has seen an increase in these cases over the past few years. This is due to the growing awareness of people’s rights and if you face a similar issue, then you should contest the rules too.
3. Your Annual Income
If you fail to qualify for SSDI because you haven’t done enough work to qualify in the past ten years, you still have a saving grace. You can try to claim SSI (Supplemental Security Income)- but remember that it’s available to only those who have a very low income and proportionately low assets. All your currently owned assets and monthly income are calculated, and the total amount should be below a certain threshold for you to get any benefits. Keep in mind that the monthly income includes all sources of income like work sources, non-work sources, and even the income of the spouse. It’s rather difficult to qualify for SSI, but if your application for SSDI has already been rejected, it can only be your saving grace.
4. Proving Your Claims
Another important thing that you need to understand when trying to claim disability benefits is that your claims have to be backed by evidence. Your doctor also has to concur with the claim that you won’t be able to work for more than a year and if they find that you’re overexaggerating your claims, your application could be directly rejected. The government agencies will also try to determine if your condition actually stops you from doing certain activities, and they even look at other relevant factors like age, activity levels, and your job. It might sound like a violation of your privacy, or you might feel that the government is being stingy. However, it’s for good reason so that only the people who actually deserve this help are the ones awarded with it.
5. Special Cases
Nothing in life is absolutely black and white, the same principle holds true in the case of disabilities as well. While the government can set some standard rules to make their screening and selection process more efficient and easier, some cases are so special that they have to be considered separately. For example, in the case of blind people or those with problematic vision, special exceptions and rules are in place. The monthly ceiling for visually impaired individuals is much higher than that of a person with perfect vision and for good reason. Even widows and orphans have a special set of rules which give them much-needed leeway. These exceptions are not unjustified as they seek to help those out who are suffering financially as well as physically, and not to mention the mental anguish of a person who’s suffering from multiple debilitations.
These are some of the tips and advice to help you better understand how disability claims work. Not everyone can be eligible for these claims, but you have to check the laid-out rules to find out everything in detail. This article clarified how you can lead a better life by getting adequate disability benefits, but it’s equally important to understand how these claims are awarded and rejected so that you don’t have to waste a lot of your time. These are the basic procedures and factors that are covered in almost any case of a disability claim, and you can go as deep into the factual details as you want to, but these should be enough to get you started.
Photo courtesy of Pexels
.
.
