How the SSA Decides if You’re Eligible for SSDI Benefits in Tampa

One of the most fundamental questions you can ask Disability Experts of Florida is, “How does the Social Security Administration (SSA) determine if I’m disabled and eligible for Social Security Disability?” According to the SSA, whether or not you are disabled can be determined by five general questions.

1. Are you working? If you are working in 2014 and your earnings average more than $1,070 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. If you are not working, the SSA will go to step two.
2. Is your condition “severe”? Your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered. If it does not, they will find that you are not disabled. If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, they then proceed to step three.
3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions? For each of the major body systems, the SSA maintains a list of medical conditions that are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, they have to decide if it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, they will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then go to step four.
4. Can you do the work you did previously? If your condition is severe but not at the same level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then SSA must determine if it interferes with your ability to do the work you did previously. If it does not, your claim will be denied. If it does, we proceed to step five.
5. Can you do any other type of work? If you cannot do the work you did in the past, SSA determines if you are able to adjust to other work. We consider your medical conditions and your age, education, past work experience and any transferrable skills you may have. If you cannot adjust to other work, your claim will most likely be approved. If you can adjust to other work, your claim will be denied.

Important Note on Social Security Disability Eligibility:

Note: The SSA has two initiatives designed to expedite our processing of new disability claims: Compassionate Allowances: Certain cases that usually qualify for disability can be allowed as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. Examples include acute leukemia, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and pancreatic cancer. Quick Disability Determinations: SSA uses sophisticated computer screening to identify cases with a high probability of allowance.

Call Disability Experts of Florida

It is more than likely that you will have more questions about your Social Security Disability eligibility. For the security of you and your family’s future, please call us today for a free consultation regarding your potential social security disability eligibility.