Illness, injury, sickness and trauma can occur at almost any time, and when they do, the sick or injured often lose the ability to work and provide for their families. The inability to work can be devastating and disheartening. Thankfully, we have Social Security Disability to assist the injured and the sick in some circumstances.
When we think of disability, images and ideas come to mind about what exactly that means; however, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has a special definition for “disability.” For the SSA, disability essentially means an inability to work. First, you are unable or cannot do the same work that you did before. Second, you simply cannot adjust to new work because of your illness or injury. Third and finally, this injury or illness must last at least a year or until your death. This is a very specific and narrow definition, and in order to be eligible, you must fulfill or meet all three parts of the definition.
Beyond this work-related eligibility requirement, the SSA has a long list of medical conditions it considers serious enough to make a person disabled. Those applying for SSD benefits must provide medical records to show that their conditions qualify them for disabled status. Often, their first application is denied, and they must provide further information and try again.
If you are sick or injured, you already have to deal withyour condition, and can be downright discouraging to have to prove you meet these requirements just to get support. Showing the SSA that you are eligible is not a simple task. Fortunately, there are skilled attorneys that can help the sick and injured navigate this process and assist in the application for SSD benefits.
Source: SSA.gov, “Disability Planner: What We Mean By Disability,” Oct. 4, 2017
