Whether you have already applied for social security disability (SSD) benefits or are preparing to file your claim for SSD benefits, you will likely want to know what you need to do in order to qualify, and how long you can expect it to take before you begin collecting benefits if your claim is approved. Continue reading to learn more about SSD qualifying criteria so you can better prepare your application.
There are two main criteria for SSD approval, one of which is the work credit requirement. Every year, each worker has the opportunity to earn a maximum of four work credits.
Each work credit is worth $1,360, and you’ll need to have earned forty work credits over your lifetime to qualify. Half of your work credits, or twenty of them, will need to have been earned over the last five years for your claim to be approved.
The next requirement, and arguably the most important, is that you have a disabling condition. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a list of qualifying conditions, and if your diagnosis is on this list, you will automatically be approved for SSD without regard to your work credits.
However, those who do not have a condition described on the list of qualifying conditions will need to submit medical documentation that demonstrates that they are unable to earn a living doing any type of work due to the extent of their condition.
If you would like assistance in filing your SSD claim, or if you have had your claim for benefits denied and the SSA says you don’t qualify, get in touch with a reputable Boston SSD attorney at Joel H. Schwartz, PC today. You can visit our website or call our office at 1-800-660-2270 to set up your complimentary claim assessment as soon as possible.
