Who is entitled to disability benefits? (2024)

FAQs

Who is entitled to disability benefits? ›

SSI disability benefits are payable to adults or children who are disabled or blind, have limited income and resources, meet the living arrangement requirements, and are otherwise eligible.

In order to be eligible for DI benefits, you must: Be unable to do your regular or customary work for at least eight days. Have lost wages because of your disability. Be employed or actively looking for work at the time your disability begins.

Only say what's truly needed for the SSA to understand your answer. The SSA is only concerned with your eligibility for benefits and giving too much information won't help. Examples: Say “I can only sit for 20 to 30 minutes without pain,” instead of “I haven't been able to watch a movie with my family in 6 years.”

You must have a disability that affects your ability to work for a year or more, or will result in death. If you continue to work, your condition must also limit you from earning income above an amount we call “substantial gainful activity” (SGA).

Various conditions can qualify you for disability benefits. Among disabled workers, the most commonly approved conditions are musculoskeletal issues and nervous system and sense organ issues.

Broken limbs, sprains, concussions, appendicitis, common colds, or influenza generally would not be disabilities. A broken leg that heals normally within a few months, for example, would not be a disability under the ADA.

Do not tell the doctor you are “o*kay,” “fine,” or “pretty good” when you are there for an assessment of your condition. Even saying this out of habit could jeopardize your claim. Be honest about your complaints, symptoms, and other details of your condition.

What's the fastest you can get approved for disability? ›

While some people are approved in as little as 30 days, others can wait a year or longer before they receive a final decision.

An adjudicative team consisting of a medical or psychological consultant and a disability examiner usually makes the determination. If the adjudicative team finds that additional evidence is still needed, the consultant or examiner may recontact a medical source and ask for additional information.

If your treating doctor says you will never recover completely or will always be limited in the work you can do, you may have a permanent disability. This means that you may be eligible for permanent disability (PD) benefits. You don't have to lose your job to be eligible for PD benefits.

The 100 percent disability rating is often awarded to veterans with two or more limbs that have been amputated or paralyzed or for veterans with active service-related diseases such as cancer, severe cardiac conditions, or psychiatric conditions such as PTSD, bipolar, depression, or schizophrenia.

Common Disabilities That Are Difficult to Prove

Mental Health Disorders: Certain mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other personality disorders can be difficult to prove. Their effects fluctuate over time, and each condition affects a person differently.

A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).

An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.