Are you eligible?

Printable Page

You may qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you have worked and paid FICA taxes, and have a medical condition that meets Social Security’s definition of disability.

The chart below shows Social Security’s five-step process to determine if an individual qualifies for benefits.  Ask yourself the questions to determine if you qualify.

Indicates you may not qualify.

However, if you believe you are eligible, call us at 800-825-7734 for a free, no obligation evaluation.

Question	Yes	No
1. Are you working? Determine if an individual is “working (engaging in substantial gainful activity)” according to the SSA definition. Earning more than $1,040 a month as an employee is enough to be disqualified from receiving Social Security disability benefits.	And are you earning more than $1,040 a month?	Answer next question
2. Does your disability significantly limit your ability to perform basic work activities? Conclude the disability must be severe enough to significantly limit one’s ability to perform basic work activities needed to do most jobs. For example: Walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, carrying or handling, seeing, hearing and speaking, understanding/carrying out and remembering simple instructions, responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers and usual work situations, dealing with changes in a routine work setting.	Answer next question
3. Is your disability on the list of conditions that qualify? Ask if the disability meets or equals a medical listing.  View list of conditions	Answer next question	You may be eligible. Go to next question.
4. Does your disability prevent you from performing work you’ve done in the past? Explore the ability of an individual to perform work he has done in the past despite his disability. If the SSA finds that a person can do his past work, benefits are denied. If the person cannot, then the process proceeds to the fifth and final step.	Answer next question
5. Are you qualified to do other types of work? Review age, education, work experience and physical/mental condition to determine what other work, if any, the person can perform. To determine disability, the SSA enlists medical-vocational rules, which vary according to age.		You are likely eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits

Compassionate Allowances

Faced with the reality of an unprecedented backlog of 3.3 million claims in 2012, and longer wait times for applicants, the Social Security Administration (SSA) utilizes its Compassionate Allowances program in an effort to provide benefits quickly to applicants whose medical conditions are so serious that their conditions obviously meet disability standards.

There are 200 conditions that may qualify you for a quicker decision through the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances program. For a list of the SSA Compassionate Allowances click here.

“I can say without a doubt, we would have not been able to get through this without your help.  It would have been so confusing and intimidating.  Thank you.  You were always there for us.”

– Todd & Anne W., St. Joseph, Missouri

Not sure?  Call us.

We’d be happy to walk you through eligibility.  Call us at 800-825-7734.  Or, complete the contact form here, and we will call you at your convenience.