What Social Security Looks For When Determining A Disability
If you are filing for social security disability, you're going to have a lot more questions than you have answers. Filing for social security is a difficult and complex process, and it's a lengthy process as well. It's best if you hire an attorney to help you through the process, so they can guide you along the way and handle any legal issues that arise. One of the biggest hurdles you will have to overcome is proving to the Social Security Administration that you are disabled, and this article will give you a brief overview on what Social Security looks for in order to determine your level of disability, if any.
Determine if You're Unable to Be Substantially Employed
The Social Security Administration will determine if you are able to be substantially employed or not. Every year, the Social Security Administration will set an amount that an individual can earn monthly and still collect disability. If you are able to earn over that amount monthly, the Social Security Administration will probably not consider you to be disabled. If you apply for disability benefits while working, you can't earn over that amount, and you will be denied the same day you apply without even having your medical records considered. If you are working while you wait for benefits and you don't earn over the threshold, your application will still be considered.
Medical Evidence Social Security Looks For
To qualify for disability benefits, your application must contain copies of your current medical records. Your records must contain evidence of your mental or physical impairment, and there must be detailed information as to how your impairment prevents you from working.
Unless Social Security can determine from your application that your medical condition is severe enough to meet their requirements of a disability, Social Security will make an assessment as to the type of work you're capable of doing. It may not be the same job you used to work in, but Social Security is willing to train you for a new skill-set that your disability does not interfere with.
Review Your Functional Capacity Assessment
Social Security determines whether or not you can do medium, light, or sedentary work. They will also look at any psychiatric, psychological or cognitive impairments. While it's highly possible that you can't do the work you once did, it's possible you can still do work that allows you to earn a decent living. Social Security decides whether you can do semi-skilled work, less than unskilled work or unskilled work when they are making their final decisions as to whether or not you qualify to collect disability.
For more information, contact a social security attorney at Horn & Kelley, PC Attorneys at Law.
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