Is Social Security only for permanent disability? Not necessarily. You don’t have to be permanently disabled to get Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, but you do have to be unable to work for 12 months or more to receive disability benefits. To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you must have very limited income, have a disability, or be 65 or older.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has strict eligibility requirements for the SSDI program, and wading through all the details of how to qualify can be challenging, particularly if you’re suffering from a disabling condition that affects your ability to focus. At Ryan Bisher Ryan and Simons, we have been handling Social Security disability claims for almost 30 years, and we can help you determine your legal options.
Basic Requirement for SSDI Recipients
What qualifies you for permanent disability benefits? First, you must have a work history in which you paid Social Security payroll taxes. When you’re working, you earn up to four work credits each year. The number of credits you need to be eligible for SSDI depends on how old you are when your disability begins. In general, though, you need 40 credits, and 20 of those must be earned in the last 10 years.
Next, your medical condition must meet the Social Security Administration’s strict definition of disability.
Long-Term Disability and Short-Term Disability
Long-term disabling conditions can qualify you for SSDI, and some people receive these benefits until they reach retirement age. However, you may be entitled to SSDI even if your disabling condition is not permanent. In some cases, you can obtain SSDI benefits initially, but then your condition can improve to the point where you can return to work, and you no longer need the benefits.
Short-Term Medical Conditions
In addition, there are some situations in which the available benefits are limited. For example, this is true in the case of a person who receives an organ transplant. The SSA considers a person in this situation disabled for at least 12 months. At the end of that period, the SSA will reevaluate the case to determine whether the condition still prevents the person from working.
Total and Permanent Disability
What qualifies for permanent disability?
Even though you don’t have to be permanently disabled to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must be totally disabled to collect these benefits. The SSA uses a five-part test to determine whether you are eligible for SSDI:
- Are you engaged in substantial gainful activity (the limit increases each year)?
- Does your condition prevent you from doing basic work activities?
- Is your condition listed in the SSA Blue Book’s list of disabling conditions?
- Can you perform the work you did previously?
- Can you do any other type of work?
The answers to these questions determine whether you are totally disabled and eligible for benefits.
Questions About Social Security Permanent Disability? Talk to Our Oklahoma Social Security Disability Attorneys Today
When you can’t work and your salary stops, what do you do? Call Ryan Bisher Ryan and Simons. Our Social Security disability lawyers will review your situation, identify the benefits you may be entitled to, and assist with the application process. If you’ve already applied and been denied, we can help you through the appeals process.
Applying for SSDI benefits is difficult, and you shouldn’t try to handle it on your own. Contact us today, and let us help.
