Reasons Why People Are Declined Social Security Disability Benefits
Receiving any form of Social Security benefits requires qualification of your work history, or the work history of someone related to you by marriage or blood. Social Security disability benefits require a potential recipient to submit to medical examinations and provide medical records for proof of disability. Once the Social Security local office determines your qualifications in all aspects but disability, your claim goes to the state Disability Determination Services. This organization reviews your medical condition and makes a decision independent of the Social Security Administration.
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Work History
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Social Security requires disability claimants to have a work history. The maximum requirement is 10 years or 40 credits of work, but disability claimants may have as little as six credits over the last three years prior to disability and still qualify for disability benefits. Another test requires you to work about half of the years between age 21 and the date of your disability to receive benefits.
Disability Definition
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You must have a condition expected to last a minimum of 12 months or to result in death. You must not be able to participate in substantial gainful activity. This is not just the position you held before the injury but includes other positions for which you might qualify.
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Sequential Evaluation Process
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Sequential evaluation starts with your current work activity and the disability. The disability must meet the medical requirements and you must not be able to participate in substantial gainful activity. Social Security gives consideration to your residual functions, your education, age and previous work experience in evaluating your disability. These additional factors relate to your ability to participate in substantial gainful activity based on work you have performed in the past.
Disability Benefits
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The Social Security Administration handles non-medical issues, and you must meet all of the work-history qualifications to receive benefits. The Disability Determination Services (DDS) makes this decision as to medical disability requirements. The DDS uses your medical sources first. It may require additional information and will schedule a consultative evaluation from your sources or an independent source. Once the DDS makes the medical determination, the case file goes back to the Social Security office for handling. If benefits are awarded, Social Security completes the paperwork. If Social Security denies you disability benefits, you may ask for reconsideration.
Denial of Benefits
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A Social Security disability denial usually stems from the definition of disability. Social Security does not consider partial disability, so you cannot be able to engage in substantial gainful activity to receive benefits. Opportunities abound for disabled individuals to be productive citizens, and many moneymaking opportunities arise on the Internet. If you cannot do the work you did before, Social Security looks at whether you can do any other type of work. Social Security denies benefits if you can do any type of work. You must pass all the "tests" to receive Social Security disability. The combination of work history and disability that prevents substantial gainful activity form key elements of the testing process.
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