The Social Security Disability Program – Overview
Most people know that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is part of the federal government and issues monthly checks to retired people. What many people do not realize, though, is that the SSA also sends out checks on a monthly basis to disabled children and disabled adults under the age of 62. The Social Security Disability program, which includes both the SSDI and SSI programs, is a federal government program that offers cash benefits to citizens under retirement age who meet the SSA’s definition of disability.
In order to be considered eligible for such Social Security disability benefits, you have to meet the SSA’s definition of “disabled.” Put simply, you have to have a diagnosed medical problem that keeps you from being able to participate in “substantial gainful activity,” which includes employment, volunteer work, and even school. In addition, your medical problem – mental or physical – has to be serious enough to last at least a year or more. Social Security disability does not offer payment for temporary medical problems.
Having a disabling or debilitating medical problem, however, is not enough to be considered disabled. The SSA is primarily concerned with whether or not you can work; therefore, you must be able to prove that your condition keeps you from being able to work even a simple, entry-level job in order to be considered disabled.
Imagine yourself working as a packer in a factory, packing products into a shipping box; or working as a cashier at a car garage; or working as a third-shift security system officer, monitoring security videos all night. Would you be able to complete one of these low stress jobs for 8 hours a day, 5 days per week? If so, then you might not meet SSA’s definition of disabled.
Even if you feel that you are unable to perform even a simple, entry-level job such as the ones listed above, that alone is not enough to actually win a Social Security disability case. In order to get approved for benefits, you must have good medical evidence and/or an opinion from your doctor(s) which medically prove that you are disabled and cannot work. As your Social Security attorney, my job is to gather all that medical evidence, gather employment records, and put the evidence together in a way that explains why you are unable to work. In other words, my job is to translate your medical condition into detailed work activity limitations.