Should I Apply for Social Security Disability Insurance?

Are you wondering if you should apply to receive SSDI?

Many people, especially younger people, don’t ever consider the possibility of becoming disabled. However, the unfortunate reality is that there is a 25% chance of a worker becoming disabled over the course of their career. Social Security Disability is
a program you may want to consider if you find yourself unable to work after suffering a disability.

If you have a condition which prevents you from working then you should consider applying for Social Security disability. The Social Security Administration recommends applying for disability as soon as you become disabled. Call 512-454-4000 for help with the application process.

Disability has many different faces.

Sometimes people become disabled instantly. Sometimes an injury or disease can take years before it prevents someone from working. Sometimes disability is very clear- obviously it is difficult to find work for someone who is blind or needs assistive devices. Sometimes it is not as obvious- there are many so-called “invisible disabilities” such as fibromyalgia, which aren’t apparent upon immediate observation, but make it difficult to perform everyday tasks. To further add to the confusion, there are many conditions which might be considered a disability in a medical or colloquial sense, but are not covered by disability insurance. Social Security will only provide benefits for conditions that prevent you from working and are expected to last for at least a year.

If you have a serious medical condition, you may be wondering if you should apply for disability.

Many people put off filing a claim because they are unsure if they meet the requirements for disability. The severity of a condition and how it impacts an individual’s life can vary and seem subjective. Having an understanding of criteria for disability will help you determine if your condition is severe enough to file a claim.

If you chose to file a claim for disability, your claim is more likely to be successful if you have professional representation. The application process can be confusing, and many claims are denied for technical reasons. Call 512-454-4000 or contact us for a free case evaluation.

The Social Security Administration uses a measure called substantial gainful activity (SGA) to determine whether or not you are able to work.

The substantial gainful activity limit generally increases every year. As of 2017, if you are unable to earn more than $1,170 per month, then you are considered unable to work.

Beyond the SGA requirement, you must also have paid in to the system.

If you’ve ever looked at your paycheck and wondered what all the money going into the “FICA” line was for, then you have paid into Social Security. The Social Security Administration has a complicated method for determining whether or not you have paid enough taxes to collect benefits. More simply, if you have worked for ten years or longer you will be eligible for disability insurance and if you are younger, it is possible to qualify with less time in the workforce.