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Five Questions to Decide if You Qualify for Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs your claim through these five questions to decide if you’re eligible for disability benefits:
No. 1: Can you work?
You must be unable to work to a level Social Security calls substantial gainful activity (SGA). You might wonder whether you can work a little and still get disability benefits. Yes, but be careful. You must make under a limit set by the government.
No. 2: Is your condition severe?
Your medical condition, or combination of conditions, must be serious. Many medical conditions qualify, including physical and mental health disorders. Some are easier to prove to Social Security than others.
No. 3: Do you have an impairment on Social Security’s official listing of impairments.
A way to qualify for benefits is to match an impairment on Social Security’s list, sometimes called the “blue book,” which outlines symptoms to document and evidence to provide for dozens of specific illnesses.
No. 4: Does your illness or injury block you from doing your previous work?
You must be unable to function in your past jobs because of your health problems.
No. 5: Could you do any other work?
If you could adjust to a different kind of work, considering your age, training and experience, they’ll deny your disability benefits. The standard to get disability benefits is strict.
You have to answer each of these questions with more than just words. You need to back up every point with documents, evidence and confirmation.
The Eugene Social Security Disability lawyers at Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor can walk you through each step, reinforcing your claim for benefits at every point.
We have an office in Eugene and help workers sidelined by health problems across the Willamette Valley.
Tell us about your situation. We’ll assess your case against Social Security’s disability qualifications and give you an idea of what you’ll need for a successful claim. This conversation is free.
How to Qualify for Social Security Disability with Any Health Impairment
Here’s another way to look at whether your medical situation meets the requirements for Social Security Disability: Even without a disease on Social Security’s official list of impairments, you can qualify for disability benefits based on a measurement of your essential daily abilities.
Social Security looks at what it calls your “residual functional capacity” or RFC. Your RFC is “the most you can still do despite your limitations,” Social Security says.
A doctor fills out an assessment of your RFC based on your individual symptoms, not your diagnosis.
Your RFC includes seven measures of physical strength:
- Sitting
- Standing
- Walking
- Lifting
- Carrying
- Pushing
- Pulling
And it assesses several other physical and mental abilities:
- Communicating
- Understanding and following instructions
- Working well with supervisors
- Working well with co-workers
- Coping with pressures of a job
- Reaching and handling objects
- Being able to see surroundings
- Tolerating temperature extremes
- Handling other environmental conditions
- Stooping
- Climbing
You need to get a doctor to present this information in a way Social Security accepts according to its regulations. An experienced Eugene disability lawyer can coordinate this process for you.
From qualifying for disability benefits to filing your application to appealing a denial, you can get a Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor disability attorney working on your claim in Eugene for no attorney fee until you win benefits.
After medical issues disrupt your life, we’re here in Eugene to help you steady yourself and live better.
We’re with You Every Step of the Way
Whether you’re trying to determine if you’re qualified for disability benefits, you need help filing your application, or you received a denial notice and want another chance, our law firm helps from the beginning and stays by your side.
Have a Question about Disability Benefits?
Your health is bad. You can’t work. Your financial stability is threatened. So your head is swimming with questions. How will you get by? How does Social Security Disability work? We’ve gathered answers. See them here:
Disability FAQs »
Hear from a Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor Client
“They work hard for people who struggle because of mental and physical abilities. Highly recommend . . . I got the call I was awarded benefits. . . . When he called me I was so happy I was crying. . . . Thank you so much for giving me hope when I lost it. Thank you for fighting so hard.”
