What Is Considered Disabled When It Comes to Disability Insurance?

In order to get disability benefits, your disability must be considered severe, expected to last at least one year or result in death.

In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits you must be considered severely disabled. Unlike some employers that may give benefits for a slight disability, you must meet strict guidelines in order to be given money from Social Security. Your disability needs to be proven via medical records and you may even be asked to be seen by a doctor who works for Social Security Administration.

Severity of Condition

To get disability benefits your disability must be considered severe, expected to last at least one year or result in death. To be considered severe the condition must cause you to not be able to do basic things, such as walking, sitting or remembering simple things. If your disability does not limit you from doing these things you will not be considered disabled by the Social Security Administration.

Severe Impairments

There are several conditions that have been determined to be severe enough that if you have one of these conditions you automatically are considered severely disabled and eligible for benefits. Social Security has come up with a list of impairments that automatically qualifies you for benefits. These impairments are split into categories based on the part of the body it effects. The list can be found on the Social Security website listed in the resources below.

Ability to Work

To be considered disabled enough to receive benefits you must not be able to work in any field. The Administration will look and see if you are able to work in the field that you had previously worked. If you cannot, they will then look and see if you can work in any other field based on your condition, your education, past work experience and skills you possess.

Medical Evidence

The Social Security Administration will use medical evidence from your medical records to determine if you are disabled. They will ask your doctors when your condition began, how it limits your activities, what medical tests have been done and what if any treatment you have received. If the Administration does not feel they have enough evidence to support that you should receive disability benefits they may ask you to go to one of their doctors for an examination.

Appeals

If it is determined that you are not considered severely disabled and do not qualify for benefits and you disagree with that decision, you may appeal that ruling. You will receive a letter explaining why you did not qualify. You need to make the request in writing within 60 days of getting the letter. The first thing the Social Security Administration will do is have someone look at the case again who did not look at it the first time. If you still disagree, you can ask for a hearing in front of a Social Security judge. The next step in the appeal process would be a meeting with the Administration's Appeals Council, and if you still wanted to fight the decision, you can have the case brought to Federal Court.

References

• Social Security Administration: Disability Benefits

Resources

• Social Security Administration: List of Impairments