How to Apply for Medical Disability
The Social Security Administration (SSA) gives medical disability benefits to disabled adults (age 18 or over) through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI). It gives benefits to disabled children (under age 18) through the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI). The application process and medical requirements are similar for both programs.
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Things You'll Need
- Birth or baptismal certificate
- Names, addresses and phone numbers of medical staff
- Names, addresses and phone numbers of hospitals
- Prescriptions
- Medical Records
- School Records
- Laboratory test results
- Job description
- W-2 Form
Instructions
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Check for medical eligibility. Individuals are considered disabled if they suffer from a medical condition that have or will last for at least 12 months and is severe enough to keep them from performing regular activities (working, walking, talking or attending regular classes). The SSA publishes a Listing of Impairments for adults and children enumerating certain medical conditions such as epilepsy, asthma, loss of speech and hearing impairments that are considered medical disabilities depending on their severity and duration. Social Security may consider medical conditions that are not on their list, but only after evaluating all medical records and requesting more tests if necessary.
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Check for income eligibility. The SSA indicates that adults should pass two earning requirements and children should pass one. Adults need to demonstrate that they have worked a certain number of years before the disability began. For example, if you become disabled at 24, you need to demonstrate that you worked for at least 1.5 years within the three-year period that ended when the disability began. For children, Social Security will evaluate the family's income to determine earning eligibility for benefits.
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Fill in the Application for Social Security Disability benefits. Call the Social Security Office at 800-722-1213 to apply by phone. You may also download the application online (see Resources). Fill in your personal information (name, address, phone and social security numbers). Answer the questions regarding your injury, work history and other benefits that you are receiving. Provide personal information on your spouse and dependents. Read the paragraphs regarding your responsibility to report any changes to the SSA.
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Fill in the Disability Report. Adults need to fill in the Adult Disability Report and children need to fill in the Child Disability Report. Fill in all personal information, information regarding your educational background and details relating to your medical condition. Write down all the names, places of work and specialties of the physicians that treated your medical condition. Specify all medical treatments and drugs prescribed.
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Mail all additional documentation and wait for an answer. The Disability Determination Service Office, a state agency, may request hard copies of some documents such as medical records, birth certificate or medical release forms to assist the SSA on making a final decision. Mail this information promptly to avoid unnecessary processing delays. Check your mail frequently. The Social Security Office will send you a letter explaining the final decision. You will receive either a letter of approval explaining your benefits or a letter of denial explaining the reasons why benefits were not approved.
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Tips & Warnings
Apply for benefits as soon as your disability starts, as the application process may take up to six months.
You have the right to appeal if you think benefits were unfairly denied.
Open a bank account to receive electronic payments.
Prepare for a review of the medical condition. Social Security reviews medical conditions they approve after 18 months, three or five years.
References
Resources
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