Q & A
I know I am eligible to apply for disability benefits based on my earnings record. But how does Social Security decide whether I am disabled?
Answer: Overall, we use a five-step evaluation process to decide whether you are disabled. The process considers any current work activity you are doing. It also considers the severity of your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work. To be found disabled:
• You must be unable to do work you did before you became disabled and we must decide you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition; and
• Your disability must last, or be expected to last, for at least one year or to result in death.
Social Security pays only for total disability. We do not pay benefits for partial or short-term disability. For more information, read our publication Disability Benefits, by visiting http://goo.gl/MmhC0 and typing the title of the publication in the search box on the left side of the page.
Source: http://thechiefleader.com - August 28, 2013
This posting is presented for informational purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. Any opinions or interpretations presented are either those of the original author or, in the case of articles authored by the AMAC Foundation, are the opinions of AMAC Foundation staff, originally trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA) and certified via the AMAC Foundation. Any links included in the article are valid on the posted date; socialsecurityreport.org cannot guarantee the duration of the links’ validity. NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (https://amacfoundation.org/services/) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Because we are a non-profit organization, there is no charge for these services.