Published on: November 24, 2014
When pursuing benefits for a disability in Florida, who you talk to can be just as important for your application as supporting documents. In many instances, applicant mistakes (which are entirely avoidable) are a main cause of SSDI denial.
While you can appeal these decisions to get the benefitsyou deserve, it’s better to avoid denials altogether; by having an experienced disability expert engage with the SSA on your behalf and guide your application through the process.
In this article, we’ll give a brief glimpse into the main things you should keep in mind when applying for disability benefits, as well as what you can do right away to better your chances of getting benefits.
Qualifying Medical Conditions
For starters, applicants seeking benefits must be afflicted with a condition officially listed in the SSA’s Blue Book, or in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) The following are core examples of what the Blue Book and CFR can classify as “disabling:”
- Respiratory illness
- Cardiovascular disease
- Blindness
- Mental/anxiety disorders
- Speech impediments
- Digestive illness
- Musculoskeletal ailment
- Immune system disorder
To be eligible for benefits, these disabilities must play an active, limiting role in your ability to earn. If you can still work to full capacity and earn a standard wage in your field, the SSA will not award you benefits. Additionally, if your disability or condition is temporary in nature, your application will be denied. For Social Security benefits, the SSA requires that a disability be expected to last at least one year, or have already lasted one year.
However, if your condition limits your earnings, or otherwise prevents you from working, benefits through the Social Security Administration’s SSI and SSDI programs can provide the necessary support you need. When applying for disability, medical evidence is the most relevant factor in the SSA decision-making process.
Your Work History and Taxes Affect SSDI Benefits
That being said, medical history and an eligible diagnosis aren’t all the SSA looks into when deciding whether or not to grant benefits. To qualify for the SSDI program, you will have had to contribute to Social Security throughout a significant portion of your working life in the form of taxes.
To determine your eligibility, and benefit amount should you be approved, the SSA will perform two basic work tests; these are the duration of work test and recent work test.
Without going too in depth with these tests, they are merely tools that weigh your working contributions with your age and calendar years. For example, to be eligible for benefits under a recent work test, you will have had to work at least half of the period leading up to your disability (this period is determined by your age, and the onset of your disability). Beyond age 31, the SSA requires that you work at least 5 of the 10 years before your disability to be eligible for their benefit programs.
To get SSDI or SSI benefits in Florida, your disability must severely affect your ability to work as you did prior to your disability.
What You Can Do to Make Applications Simple
We could spend ages listing things that affect disability applications, and the factors that might harm or improve your chances of getting benefits; this is why hiring an experienced disability expert to handle your application for you is such a wise decision. These professionals, with their experience, know the way the Social Security Administration is likely to handle your application.
Finding a reliable and experienced disability consultant in your state can help youimprove the chances of getting the benefits you need, and simplify the entire application process. Dealing with a disability is a stressful enough situation on its own; there’s no need to add to that stress by pursuing benefits alone, which can have negative implications on your benefit decision.
Whether you need to apply for the first time, or appeal an existing determination by the SSA, hiring a disability expert can be the deciding factor in your success.
