Social Security Disability Insurance Eligibility

Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) is a benefit paid by the government's Social Security Administration (SSA) to workers who can no longer support themselves through work and are considered disabled. The definition of a disability is a medical condition that is expected to last for a long period of time, at least one year, or will cause death. Unlike other social welfare programs that can give financial assistance for partial or temporary disabilities, SSDI is intended for those with full disabilities.

Workers must qualify for SSDI based upon two separate "earnings" tests by the Social Security Administration:

• The first test is called a "recent work" test and is based upon the age of the worker at the time of the disability; for example, a worker who becomes disabled between the ages of 24 and 31 will generally need to prove work experience for half of the previous ten years; this test uses calendar quarters to mark time.

• The second test is a "duration of work" test; applicants must have worked for a certain amount of time before their disability based upon their age; the years worked do not have to be within a certain time period like they do with the recent work test and can be scattered throughout the previous years.

If the applicant passes the earnings tests, they must provide medical documentation of their disability which will be reviewed by doctors and disability specialists with the SSA's Disability Determination Services office in the applicant's state. The documents provided should be from qualified doctors and medical facilities. They need to show the medical condition, when it began, how it affects the applicant as a disability, and any treatment the applicant has received. The SSA will determine if the applicant is able to perform work related activities such as walking, lifting, sitting, and using cognitive skills or if they are truly disabled and deserve SSDI benefits.

If the SSA rules that the worker is disabled enough to be unable to perform their previous type of work, the SSA will also consider if the worker can perform other types of work different from their original line of work.

For more information, please visit http://www.socialsecuritynethelp.me