Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits

How to Qualify for SSD

Generally, In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits you must meet the following requirements:

• Aged individuals may qualify for Supplemental Security Income:

  The Social Security Administration defined "Aged" as any individual sixty-five years or older. If you are 65 years or older and have a limited income, you may qualify for Social Security payout's without being disabled under the regular Social Security program.

• Blindness could qualify you for Social Security Disability Benefits:

  The Social Security Disability program defines blindness as vision of 20/200 or less. This must be your current visual ability even if you are wearing corrective lenses. Severe limitations on your peripheral vision also will qualify as "blindness"

• Disabled individuals could qualify for Social Security Disability:

  Severe physical or mental limitation which limits an individual's ability to perform substantial gainful employment. The disability must be expected to last 12 months or result in death. The test to determine eligibility will evaluate if an individual is capable of performing any job within the work environment. Eligibility is not determined by whether or not an individual can perform their current job or if they can actually acquire a job.

• Limited Income is considered when applying for Social Security Disability:

  Income can be money and also non- cash items. Income can include salary, tips and other wages. Non-wages could include all money received from Social Security, unemployment benefits and other free shelter or food subsidies.

• Social Security Disability will also consider limited resources:

  Resources can include all cash, land, stocks and bonds, property, life insurance or anything else that can be transferred to cash. The resource limitations are approximately $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. There are certain resources such as your home and care (up to $4500 market value) which may be excluded. You may also be able to completely exclude your car if it is used to transport a disabled person, or needed for medical treatment.

• United States Citizen:

  A citizen of the United States of America

• Qualified Alien:

  To be a qualified alien you must meet certain criteria of the Department Homeland Security.

Disability Term of the Day

Disability

The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for at least 12 continuous months.

Category: Disability

Latest Disability Question

Can I get disability benefits if I never worked?

To qualify for SSI you do not have to work or pay money into the system and you do not have to be insured. You will, however, have to prove you have VERY limited income and resources to qualify for SSI benefits.

Category: Disability

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