Who's Eligible for LTD from Social Security?

A person with a “LTD” or a “long term disability” would be eligible for benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) or under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) progam. SSDI is a payroll tax funded, federal insurance program managed by Social Security intended to provide income for people who are unable to work for a long term or long period of time due to a severe disability. Benefits are approved only after an intensive examination of medical records to determine if the disability claimed is severe enough to preclude the applicant from engaging in gainful employment of any kind.  A disabled worker or a disabled child may also be eligible to receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program if he meets the financial requirements of that program but the medical requirement regarding the claimed disability will be the same in both these Social Security administered programs.

Medical Requirements for Social Security SSDI and SSI Programs

Requirements for a Child

A child, or an individual under age eighteen, is “disabled” if medically determinable evidence is submitted documenting a physical or mental impairment which has the following elements:

• The condition causes marked or severe functional limitations or
• Can be expected to result in death and
• Has lasted or is expected to last for twelve months or longer

Requirements for an Adult

A person over age eighteen will be considered disabled if he can produce medical evidence and documentation supporting a “medically determinable physical or mental impairment” meeting the following criteria:

• The condition results in an inability to do any substantially gainful activity and
• Can be expected to result in death or
• Has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period not less than twelve months

A disabled applicant must be able to prove he has a medically determinable impairment of the required duration by submitting medical evidence detailing relevant symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings which may include psychological and/or developmental test findings.  Multiple disabilities evidenced by multiple symptoms and signs may be clustered together to constitute one recognizable mental and/or physical disorder.  Referenced impairments may be intermittent or continuous depending on the nature of the impairment claimed.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a member of your family has a long term disability and would like to apply for benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance or the Supplemental Security Income program it may be helpful to discuss the application process with a social security long term disability attorney.