How Do I Apply for Social Security Disability?

If you have been disabled, then you may need to ask “how do I apply for social security disability.” The application process involve ensuring that you meet the minimum required qualifications, and then submitting the appropriate documentation to the social security administration.

Determining Eligibility

The first step is to ensure you qualify for social security disability. SSA disability is for long term disability only. This means your disability must be expected to last for one year or longer, or have already lasted for one year. An exception is made to the one year requirement if the disability is likely to lead to death.

If your disability is likely to last long enough, you also must determine whether it is severe enough. The SSA provides disability benefits only if you are unable to do the work you were doing before, and if your disability renders you unable to learn any other work that you could reasonably do. The SSA has a “blue book” that contains a list of covered disabilities; if your disability isn’t in the book, you will have to submit medical records to prove it is sufficiently impairing as to preclude you from working.

Finally, you must determine whether you have worked in a covered job long enough to qualify. The SSA requires that you have sufficient work experience, which varies by age. If you are disabled in the quarter before or up to your 24th birthday, you must have worked for 1.5 years out of the 3 years before you became disabled. If you are disabled in the quarter after your 24th birthday, up to the quarter before your 31st birthday, then you must have worked for ½ of the time between your 24th birthday and your age at the time of the disability. Finally, if you become disabled in the quarter after your 31st birthday, you have to have worked for at least five of the prior 10 years.

Filing Out an Application

If you believe you are eligible for SSA disability, the next step in answering the question of how do I apply for social security disability is to fill out an application. You can complete both the Application and Adult Disability Report at the links on the SSA website. The application and disability report require you to supply information on the type of disability you have, as well as your work experience.

You may then be required to answer additional questions or provide additional medical records to the SSA. In some cases, you will be brought in for an interview or the SSA will request you undergo a medical exam with a doctor of their choosing.

Upon a review of your application, your request for SSA disability benefits will be either approved or denied by the SSA. If it is denied, you can appeal the denial.

Getting Legal Help

If you wish to apply for social security disability benefits, you should consult with an experienced disability attorney who can help. He can help answer your questions regarding how to apply for benefits and can help you determine whether you are likely to be eligible or not given your circumstances. A disability attorney can also help you fill out your application and prove your claim.