At first glance, the answer to this question may sound obvious—of course, people with disabilities are eligible for disability benefits. However, like most legal procedures, it’s not that simple.
For starters, there is no categorical answer to this question. But if you’re really itching for some answers, then the Listing of impairments and the Disability Evaluation Under Social Security or the Blue Book is a good place to start.
But to sum things up, just being unable to work due to a disability, does not automatically make you eligible for SSDI benefits. There are other factors that come into play.
An Eligible Work History
Disabled adults need to have worked enough in the recent past to be able to qualify for SSDI. Your eligibility chances are directly proportional to your credit hours.
In general, one needs about 40 work credit hours. Half of these should have been accumulated in the past 10 years. But of course, if a person is younger, the requirement is a lot less.
Definitely Too Disabled to Work
As mentioned previously, the SSA maintains a list of impairments with several categories for both adults and children. These conditions are all medically approved, and if your condition is mentioned on the list, you’re most likely to be eligible for benefits.
The SSA also determines eligibility based on the following factors:
- You’re disabled enough to no longer perform your previous job
- Your disability is expected to last for an entire year or more and is likely to result in your death
- You’re younger than your retirement age
Even if your disability isn’t listed in the Blue Book, you can still apply as there’s a possibility that you’d be eligible for Supplement Security Income Benefits instead.
And if none of this makes sense you could always hire a social security disability lawyer to walk you through things.
Disability lawyers are experienced and know the ins and outs of the social security system, which essentially means they can help you determine whether you’re eligible or not.
Moreover, they can gather the necessary medical evidence that proves that you’re eligible for the social security disability benefits even if your particular medical condition isn’t listed on the official SSA website.
So, if you need to apply for SSDI benefits and are looking for an SSI disability lawyer in Little Rock to assist you, get in touch with our legal experts!
We also offer free consultations!
Disclaimer: Information in this article is provided for general informational purposes. It may not reflect current laws in your region or state. It isn’t intended to substitute legal counsel.
