Am I "Disabled"?
This is the one of the most commonly asked questions our clients have when applying for a Social Security Disability claim. The meaning of the term "Disabled" depends on whether it is being used by a private insurance company, the Veteran's Administration, Workers Compensation, or the Social Security Administration ("SSA").
At The Disability Group we represent clients by helping them apply for Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI) and/or appealing SSA's denial of benefits. The Social Security Administration has a narrow definition of the term "disabled". The SSA considers you "disabled" if under their rules you meet the following three requirements:
- You cannot go back to work that you use to do. The SSA will consider the jobs you had for the fifteen years period prior to the date tell them that you became disabled.
- You cannot do another type of work because of a diagnosed medical condition(s). That is to say, the SSA will determine if there are other jobs you can do with your medical condition. Usually if you are under 50 years old and you can still do some type of full-time work (40 hours a week), even minimum wage work, the SSA will not consider you disabled.
- Your Disability is expected to last more than one year or result in death.
If you have been denied Social Security Disability in the Panama City area, we feel it is VERY IMPORTANT to CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY as soon as possible. The Disability Group is in the business of helping people who the Social Security Administration does not initially consider "disabled". There are many rules and exceptions that allow a person to be approved for Social Security Disability despite being initially denied. Call us today at (850) 215-5200 for a free consultation and case review.