After working for most of your adult life, you may find yourself unable to continue supporting yourself. Medical issues can leave someone unable to perform their job responsibilities or complete tasks around the home. Their health issue may affect their job, their independence and their family members.
When an injury or illness keeps you from working or makes you dependent on other people for basic daily functions, you may need to consider disability benefits. Those who have had a job have paid into Social Security and may be able to claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. What kinds of medical conditions can qualify for benefits?
Only debilitating and lasting conditions qualify
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a list of various kinds of conditions that can qualify someone for disability benefits. These range from musculoskeletal disorders to mental health conditions like schizophrenia. There are standards for the impact of certain symptoms, as well as specific medical conditions.
Your specific diagnosis does not need to be on the list, but you do need to have medical documentation showing that the condition is severe enough to prevent you from working or living independently. You also need proof that it will persist for a year or longer.
If your situation meets these standards, then you can potentially apply for SSDI. You will need to gather medical documentation and ensure that you handle the paperwork properly. Inadequate medical evidence or mistakes on your forms can lead to lengthy delays. If you are among the pool of people who get rejected when they initially applied, you may need to appeal to get benefits. An attorney can help you pursue your appeal. You need to act quickly once your appeal is denied. If you do not appeal in a timely fashion, the appeal will be rejected.
Learning more about who qualifies for SSDI benefits can help you determine if you should apply.