Obtaining Social Security benefits is not an easy task. There are certain hurdles an applicant must clear. The Detroit Social Security Disability attorneys at The Lee Steinberg Law Firm, P.C. explain that getting your claim approved is a complicated process. In fact, most applicants are denied after filing an initial claim.
But what are the eligibility requirements for receiving Social Security Benefits?
First, to be eligible for Social Security Disability, if you are over 30 years-old you must have worked at least 5 years out of the 10-year period ending with the quarter the disability began. However, even if you have not worked that much, you are still eligible if your meet the “duration or work” test. This test requires a certain amount of total work depending in your age.
So even if you have not worked much over the past decade, you may still be eligible for benefits.
Assuming you meet the work rules, the Social Security Administration and their claims examiners use five questions to determine eligibility. They include:
1. Are You Currently Employed? If you are working in 2015 and your earnings average more than $1,090 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. If you are not working, Social Security will give you an application for disability determination.
2. Is Your Condition Severe? Your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered. If it does not, we will find that you are not disabled.
3. Is Your Condition Listed As Disabled? If your condition is severe enough, Social Security will review your medical records and determine if it meets certain criteria for disability. For each of the major body systems, Social Security maintains a list of medical conditions that are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, Social Security has to decide if it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list.
4. Can You Perform Your Previous Job Duties? If your condition is severe but not at the same or equal level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then Social Security must determine if it interferes with your ability to do the work you did previously.
5. Can You Do Other Jobs? If you can’t do the same work you did in the past, Social Security will determine if you can complete other jobs. They will take your age, past work experience, education and medical conditions into consideration when making this determination. If you cannot adjust to other work, then your claim will be approve.
The Detroit Social Security lawyers at The Lee Steinberg Law Firm, P.C. can you help you apply for your benefits. We also represent applicants who have been denied by filing appeals on their behalf. We know how to win our case.
Let our experienced team of Detroit Social Security attorneys assist you by contacting the firm at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733). The call is free and there is no fee unless we win your case.
