Tuesday, March 26, 2024

How long do I have to work to qualify for Disability?

How Many Years Do You Have to Work to Get Social Security?

How many years you have to work in order to get Social Security disability depends on your age and when your disability began. You normally need around 40 work credits in order to qualify for disability, with half of them being earned in 10 years before your disability began.

You also must have worked recently to qualify for SSDI benefits. If you worked when you were young and then stopped for 6 years to start and raise a family you won’t qualify for SSDI.

Most SSDI recipients are usually required to have worked recently, typically any 5 of the last 10 years.

Credits are calculated based on your total wages or income from self-employment income earned each year. The amount of earnings needed for one credit isn’t the same every year. In 2023, you earn one work credit for every $1,470 in earnings. You need to earn $5,880 to gain the maximum of four credits allowed for each year.

How Long Do You have to Be Off Work to Get Disability?


You need to be off work for at least 12 months in order to get disability. If you think you will be out of work for at least 12 months or more, you may be able to earn Social Security disability benefits.

 You will have to provide sufficient evidence that you won’t be able to work for at least 12 months to qualify for SSDI benefits or SSI to avoid denied benefits. This is called the durational requirement. If the SSA doesn't believe your disability will last at least 12 months, you will be sent a "durational denial" letter. If you are only going to be disabled and unable to work for less than 12 months then you won’t qualify for SSDI benefits.

If you think you will only be out of work for less than 12 months, then you will not be able to qualify for Social Security disability.

 In addition to the length of time you have been out of work in order to qualify for SSDI, your accrued work credits and age your disability needs to be listed in the SSA’s Blue Book. The SSA uses its Blue Book as a guide to assess if a person is medically eligible for disability benefits.

If your disability is listed you will need to provide evidence that proves the presence of it such as your doctor’s report, results of relevant medical test results and success of treatments used to relieve the symptoms of your disability.

Can You Get Disability If You Are Unemployed?



 You can get disability if you are unemployed, however there is a limit for how long you have been out of work.

  Generally, you need to have earned 20 work credits in the 10 years of working before your disability began. If you have enough work credits, even if you have been unemployed, you may still be able to get disability benefits.

 

Getting Help With Determining if You Worked Enough


Do you need help determining if you'll qualify for Social Security benefits? You should contact a Social Security attorney or disability advocate. He or she can evaluate your claim and help you start the application process. You can also learn more about your eligibility by filling out a free evaluation form today.

For more information please call

310-420-3505

or visit our website at

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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Happy Spring!

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Friday, March 15, 2024

Is arthritis a disability?

Is arthritis a disability? Can you get disability for arthritis? And how severe does my arthritis have to be to get disability benefits?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) currently benefits millions of Americans and their families. However, many people who could benefit from the program are either unsure that they qualify or are intimidated by the process.   


To see if your arthritis could qualify for disability, we must first understand how disabilities are evaluated.


What is Arthritis?

There are many types of arthritis that affect people all over the world. The two main forms of joint pain are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder that affects the lining of your joints. After some time, it can harm your joint ligament and bones resulting in stiffness and pain.



Osteoarthritis happens when ligaments in your joints wear out over time. Many people may wonder is arthritis a disability. Yes. Arthritis can prompt incapacity, as can numerous other mental and physical conditions that qualify for disability.

If your arthritis confines your daily movements, or activities you may qualify for disability benefits.

Your level of disability depends on the daily activities you find troublesome. For illustration, you'll have trouble:


  1. walking up stairs
  2. walking for an extended period of time
  3. standing or sitting
  4. grasping small objects
  5. lifting 10 pounds or more
  6. holding your arms up
  7. Is Arthritis A Disability?
  8. Yes, arthritis is considered a disability by the Social Security Administration. If you are unable to work because of your arthritis, you may qualify for disability benefits.

Since arthritis is seen as a disability, can you get a disability for arthritis?


The answer to this revolves around your working ability following your arthritis diagnosis. More specifically, if your arthritis keeps you from working for at least 12 months, then you may be able to qualify for disability benefits with arthritis. However, you will need to provide evidence that your arthritis meets the SSA's definition of a disability as well as a Blue Book listing.

How Arthritis Can Cause Joint Dysfunction


If you are out of work for at least 12 months, you get get disability with arthritis.jpegArthritis can cause your joints to encounter major dysfunction due to distortions such as misalignments, shortening of the joint or persistent pain and firmness.


In case your condition has expanded to a dysfunction in any of your joints, you should qualify for benefits.


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Monday, March 11, 2024

How long do I have to work to qualify for Disability?

How Many Years Do You Have to Work to Get Social Security?

How many years you have to work in order to get Social Security disability depends on your age and when your disability began. You normally need around 40 work credits in order to qualify for disability, with half of them being earned in 10 years before your disability began.

You also must have worked recently to qualify for SSDI benefits. If you worked when you were young and then stopped for 6 years to start and raise a family you won’t qualify for SSDI.

Most SSDI recipients are usually required to have worked recently, typically any 5 of the last 10 years.

Credits are calculated based on your total wages or income from self-employment income earned each year. The amount of earnings needed for one credit isn’t the same every year. In 2023, you earn one work credit for every $1,470 in earnings. You need to earn $5,880 to gain the maximum of four credits allowed for each year.

How Long Do You have to Be Off Work to Get Disability?


You need to be off work for at least 12 months in order to get disability. If you think you will be out of work for at least 12 months or more, you may be able to earn Social Security disability benefits.

 You will have to provide sufficient evidence that you won’t be able to work for at least 12 months to qualify for SSDI benefits or SSI to avoid denied benefits. This is called the durational requirement. If the SSA doesn't believe your disability will last at least 12 months, you will be sent a "durational denial" letter. If you are only going to be disabled and unable to work for less than 12 months then you won’t qualify for SSDI benefits.

If you think you will only be out of work for less than 12 months, then you will not be able to qualify for Social Security disability.

 In addition to the length of time you have been out of work in order to qualify for SSDI, your accrued work credits and age your disability needs to be listed in the SSA’s Blue Book. The SSA uses its Blue Book as a guide to assess if a person is medically eligible for disability benefits.

If your disability is listed you will need to provide evidence that proves the presence of it such as your doctor’s report, results of relevant medical test results and success of treatments used to relieve the symptoms of your disability.

Can You Get Disability If You Are Unemployed?



 You can get disability if you are unemployed, however there is a limit for how long you have been out of work.

  Generally, you need to have earned 20 work credits in the 10 years of working before your disability began. If you have enough work credits, even if you have been unemployed, you may still be able to get disability benefits.

 

Getting Help With Determining if You Worked Enough


Do you need help determining if you'll qualify for Social Security benefits? You should contact a Social Security attorney or disability advocate. He or she can evaluate your claim and help you start the application process. You can also learn more about your eligibility by filling out a free evaluation form today.

For more information please call

310-420-3505

or visit our website at

Visit our Website
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Monday, March 4, 2024

Can I Qualify for Disability For Mental Illness?

Can I Qualify for Disability For Mental Illness?

What Mental Illnesses Qualify for Disability?

Any mental illness that makes it impossible for you to be able to work full time you from can qualify for disability. The most common mental illnesses that can qualify for disability are anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst many others.

The Blue Book is used by the Social Security Administration to establish guidelines for which conditions qualify a claimant for Social Security disability benefits.

 Section 12 of the Blue Book deals with mental disorders, detailing which types of mental disorders can qualify you for benefits, and under what circumstances. There are many mental health conditions that qualify for disability. There are nine categories of mental disorders covered in the Blue Book.


These include:

  • Affective disorders
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Autism and related disorders
  • Intellectual disabilities
  • Organic Mental Disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Schizophrenia, paranoia, and psychotic disorders
  • Somatoform disorders
  • Substance addiction


Each type of disorder is evaluated according to its own set of criteria. To qualify for benefits with that condition, you must be able to show that you meet the criteria or that the sum total of all of your disabling conditions is equivalent to the listed criteria or otherwise completely hinders you from engaging in any gainful activity.

Regardless of which type of mental health disability you are dealing with, you will need to be able to show that you are receiving and complying with treatment.

It is important that you continue to undergo treatment while you are in the process of claiming Social Security disability benefits. If you have a mental health condition and you think it will make it unable for you to work full time, then you may want to speak with a disability lawyer or disability advocate.



If you suffer from any of these medical conditions you should first of all seek medical attention as a doctor’s report is important for proving that your mental condition is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits.

 

As well as your doctor’s report you will need to gather further evidence proving that your mental health is likely to stop you from working for at least 12 months as well as looking in the SSA’s Blue Book that lists of conditions that qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

 

 There are several mental health conditions that can be found in the Blue Book’s list that include bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia.

 

If you can meet the medical requirements the SSA will consider that your mental health is a disability and may approve your claim for disability benefits.

For more information please call

310-445-3322

or visit our website at

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