Understanding the Criteria: What Health Conditions Qualify for Disability Benefits?
If you are grappling with a debilitating health condition that limits your ability to work and earn a living, then you may look for a solution in disability benefits. These benefits provide financial assistance to individuals who are unable to sustain their livelihoods due to a chronic illness or disability. The process of applying for disability benefits can be complicated, and eligibility criteria vary from condition to condition. In this article, we will go over the factors the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers while assessing your eligibility for disability benefits.
Understanding Disability Benefits
Disability benefits, administered by the SSA, provide a financial cushion to individuals who have significant limitations due to a medical condition. The criteria for disability benefits involve two main parts: a medical eligibility requirement, and a work history requirement. You must have worked long enough and recently enough to be eligible for disability benefits.
Medical Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for disability benefits, you must have a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and which prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA). SGA means working and earning above a certain limit set by the SSA, which is $1220 per month in 2019. Your medical condition must also affect your ability to perform basic work activities, such as standing, walking, sitting, lifting, and carrying objects.
Evaluating Your Medical Condition
The SSA evaluates medical conditions based on a ‘List of Impairments,’ also known as the blue book. This list includes medical conditions for each major body system that are severe enough to prevent an individual from doing any gainful activity. If your condition is on the list, and it meets the severity criteria, then you are automatically eligible for disability benefits.
However, if your condition is not on the list, or it does not meet the severity requirement, then the SSA will evaluate your residual functional capacity (RFC) to see if you can do any other type of work. RFC is the maximum amount of physical and mental exertion that you can do despite your medical condition. If it is determined that you cannot work any job, not just the job you used to have, then you may be eligible for disability benefits.
Work History Requirement
Another factor to consider is the work history requirement, which means that you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain period. Your age and the number of work credits determines your eligibility for disability benefits. The number of work credits required depends on your age at the point of disability, but generally speaking, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the past ten years before becoming disabled.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the criteria for disability benefits is essential if you want to qualify for them. The medical eligibility requirement depends heavily on the severity of your medical condition and its impact on your ability to work. The work history requirement considers the number of work credits you have accumulated. Applying for disability benefits can take a lot of time and effort, but the security of knowing that you will have some financial support can be well worth it.
