What Types of Disabilities Qualify for Social Security Benefits?

By law, the Social Security Administration defines the term “disability” as a person who is unable to do substantial work because of one or more medical conditions that has lasted or is expected to last one year, or is expected to result in death.

The Social Security Administration bases a person’s disability off of several questions, including the following:

• Are you working and earning more than $1,000 a month? If so, you are generally not considered disabled. If you are not working, move to question two.
• Is your condition considered “severe”? If it interferes with your ability to do productive work, you may be considered disabled. If not, you will likely not be considered to be disabled.
• Are you struggling from a condition named in the list of disabilities? This list is provided by the SSA and names severe conditions according to each of the major body systems. The complete list can be found here.
• Can you complete the same work that you did previously? If you are unable to participate in work that is considered productive, you may be considered disabled by the SSA. If the condition does not interfere with your production, your claim may be denied.
• Are you able to do any other type of work? If you are unable to engage in the work you did in the past, the SSA will evaluate your case, including your age, experience, training, education and other skills you may have to determine if you can adjust to another type of work. If you cannot, your claim will most likely be approved.

To learn more about the approval process of Social Security disability benefits and how you can file an application, call a Raleigh personal injury attorney from the Whitley Law Firm. We work directly with clients who need help with filing their claim or an appeal for a denied claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.