What Conditions Qualify for Disability

Perhaps you have been in an accident, and you are no longer able to work. Does your injury qualify you for disability? Or maybe you have a condition that allowed you to work for many years but has recently worsened. Can you go out on disability?

Determining what medical conditions qualify for disability can feel confusing, especially if you have no background in this type of thing. Luckily, you can find guidelines that will answer basic questions for you and help determine your eligibility.

Will I Qualify for Disability?

Social Security Disability Insurance is a program that allows certain people and their family members to collect payments if they become medically unable to work. To qualify, you must have paid Social Security taxes and worked for a certain amount of time in jobs covered by Social Security. The government examines your work credits, which accrue based on your yearly income from wages or self-employment. You can total up to four credits each year.

Though the bar for qualifying for credits changes slightly every year, it’s usually around $5,000. You must have earned at least 40 credits throughout your lifetime, including half of those in the past decade, to qualify for disability in most cases. Special allowances are made for younger workers.

How do you qualify for disability? The government has a list of medical conditions you must meet, and you also need to prove:

• Your disability will continue for at least a year.
• You cannot adjust to a different job because of your disability.
• You cannot perform the work you were doing before your disability.

What Medical Conditions Qualify for Disability?

The government has come up with a list of disabilities eligible to receive disability benefits. These conditions include:

• Back, bone, joint and other musculoskeletal conditions
• Disorders of the immune system, like AIDS and rheumatoid arthritis
• Hearing and vision loss or other sensory issues
• Mental health conditions, including depression
• Blood disorders, like hemophilia
• Cystic fibrosis, asthma and other respiratory conditions
• Neurological disorders, such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy
• Issues with the digestive tract, often resulting in bowel or liver problems
• Heart conditions, artery disease or other cardiovascular conditions

Of course, not all disabilities will match the blue book verbatim. You can still qualify for disability with slightly different conditions.

Am I Eligible for Disability Benefits?

You may feel isolated and alone when you develop a new medical condition and find yourself unable to work. Many people feel fulfilled by their jobs and are frustrated when they are forced into downtime. Plus, you may be worried about how you will support yourself and your family when you cannot pull in your work income. Collecting disability can ease some of those tensions.

When you still cannot determine whether you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits, it is time to talk to a professional. If you think you should get these benefits but need assistance proving your case, contact the social security attorneys at Irpino, Avin & Hawkins Law Firm. We can help you determine your eligibility. Get in touch today to speak with an experienced attorney.