Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are two federally funded programs that provide financial assistance to individuals with disabilities. These programs have strict eligibility criteria, one of which is having a medical condition that qualifies as a disability under the Social Security Administration’s definition. In this article, we will explore the types of medical conditions that are covered by Social Security Disability and those that are not. We will also discuss the process of applying for disability benefits and how medical evidence plays a crucial role in determining eligibility. Whether you are considering applying for disability benefits or simply curious about what conditions are covered, this article will provide valuable information to help you better understand Social Security Disability coverage. What Is Considered a Disability? According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), a disability is a physical or mental impairment that prevents an individual from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). In simpler terms, this means that the condition must be severe enough to significantly limit a person’s ability to work and earn a living. The SSA has a strict definition of what qualifies as a disability. The condition must be expected to last for at

The Social Security disability process is a long and winding road, and even after a claimant has been found disabled by the Social Security Administration and award benefits, it is important to remember that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are not permanent benefits. Social Security will review a claimant’s medical condition periodically to ensure the claimant remains disabled and entitled to benefits. A Continuing Disability Review (CDR) is conducted by Social Security once every three years for claimants who are expected to medically improve from their conditions. Even if Social Security determines a claimant’s impairments are not expected to improve over time, Social Security will still review a claimant’s case every five to seven years. When Social Security decides to conduct a CDR, the agency will contact the beneficiary to get updated medical treatment information from the beneficiary’s treating sources to determine if they are still eligible to SSDI benefits. Social Security will also review a beneficiary’s income, resources and living arrangements to ensure the beneficiary meets the non-medical requirements for Social Security’s disability programs. It is in the best interest of the beneficiary to participate in the CDR process and to provide Social Security with all requested information

To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, generally you must have worked and paid into Social Security for at least five years within the past ten years. According to Social Security rules, a claimant must meet specific medical requirements to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. These can include a developmental disability, long-term disability, a mental health diagnosis or any other limiting medical condition that limits a claimant’s ability to work. To receive SSDI payments, the applicant must show evidence that their disabling condition will last for at least twelve months or result in death. Getting started on a disability claim can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. Below are some details of how to begin a disability claim. Options To File The SSA provides three ways to apply for disability: You can go online and fill out the application, visit your local Social Security office and fill it out with a Social Security representative, or do it over the phone. You can apply for SSDI online at www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm. In-person. If you want to apply for SSI or SSDI in person, visit your local SSA field office. The employees there can help you with the paperwork and explain

  The Social Security Administration recently announced that the agency was reducing the requirement for disability claimants to document Past Relevant Work in making disability determinations. Beginning June 22, 2024, Past Relevant Work will consist of the past five years of employment compared to the current rule that requires the agency to consider the last 15 years of work history to be considered Past Relevant Work. The rule change should make applying for disability easier and reduce the requirement for claimants to gather information about a job they may have had many years ago. In a summary of the new rule, Social Security indicated the rule change will also better reflect current evidence about a worker’s skill level and job responsibilities when making disability determination. “These changes will reduce the burden on individuals applying for disability by allowing them to focus on the most current and relevant information about their past work,” Social Security wrote. The move is also expected to reduce processing times for disability claims and improve customer service, the agency said. Currently there are steps in the disability determination process that evaluate a disability claimant’s ability to perform their Past Relevant Work and whether a claimant has

Social Security routinely sends claimants out for Consultative Exams (CEs) with an independent doctor during the early stages of the Social Security disability process, but sometimes a claimant will be requested to attend one of these exams even after they have a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Although not the standard, it is also not uncommon for judges to send claimants out for an exam if the ALJ is unable to decide on disability claim because of a lack of medical evidence. No matter when a CE is ordered, it is imperative that the claimant attend the exam as scheduled. Failure to attend can result in the denial of a claim. After the exa,m the medical professional conducting the exam will issue a report to Social Security on the findings. The exam is not the only evidence used to issue a decision in a disability claim, but it is still important to attend. There are different types of exams a claimant may be required to attend. There are physical exams and mental health exams that are typically required based on the impairments the claimant is diagnosed with. A claimant will be notified several weeks prior to the scheduled

One of the essential requirements for obtaining Social Security disability is proof of a debilitating medical condition. One of the most common reasons for SSDI claim rejections is inadequate documentation of an injury or illness. It may sound simple enough to collect your own medical records and submit them to Social Security, but it can be time consuming and Social Security has deadlines in place for when records need to be submitted. Typically, claimants who apply for disability have medical evidence from many different treatment sources, and records can consist of medical evidence that spans over several years. This could result in hundreds of pages or even thousands of pages of medical records that need to be submitted to Social Security. Claimants always have the option of seeking the assistance of a Social Security disability attorney or representative, which can be helpful in obtaining records. Below are acceptable forms of medical evidence Social Security will accept in deciding a disability claim. • Contact information for all medical personnel who have treated you, including doctors, clinics, and hospitals. • Dates of diagnoses, hospitalizations, doctor’s visits, treatments, or operations may be included. • Laboratory findings and test results are available. • A

The Social Security disability process is a long and winding road, and even after a claimant has been found disabled by the Social Security Administration and award benefits, it is important to remember that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are not permanent benefits. Social Security will review a claimant’s medical condition periodically to ensure the claimant remains disabled and entitled to benefits. A Continuing Disability Review (CDR) is conducted by Social Security once every three years for claimants who are expected to medically improve from their conditions. Even if Social Security determines a claimant’s impairments are not expected to improve over time, Social Security will still review a claimant’s case every five to seven years. When Social Security decides to conduct a CDR, the agency will contact the beneficiary to get updated medical treatment information from the beneficiary’s treating sources to determine if they are still eligible to SSDI benefits. Social Security will also review a beneficiary’s income, resources and living arrangements to ensure the beneficiary meets the non-medical requirements for Social Security’s disability programs. It is in the best interest of the beneficiary to participate in the CDR process and to provide Social Security with all requested information

During a Social Security Disability claim the term “Date Last Insured” is likely to be an important factor in determining eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The Date Last Insured (DLI) refers to the last work quarter in which the disability claimant met Social Security’s insured status requirements. The DLI is established to ensure a claimant has established enough of a work history to meet technical requirements of the program. In most cases, individuals would qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if they had worked five out of the ten past years before the onset of the disability. Regardless of your disabling condition, your date last insured is one of the first things Social Security looks at when evaluating your claim. A claimant’s DLI plays an important role in determining eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits, but can be difficult to understand. Your date last insured is an important consideration from both the medical and the technical standpoint of your claim. Technically, you must have had enough quarters of coverage to have a DLI date. Medically, you need to show you became disabled before your date last insured. If a claimant does not have enough work credits to