Filing Your Application
-
What does Social Security consider
"disabled"?
- To be found disabled, you must be able to
prove that you cannot perform any of your past work and any other work. You
also must show that your disability is expected to last for at least 12
months or result in death.
SSA makes it easier to be found disabled as you get older. It becomes easier
people at age 50, for most people at age 55, and even more people at age 60.
If you’re over age 55 and you cannot do any job you have done in the past 15
years, you should definitely apply. If you’re over age 50 and have a severe
impairment that keeps you from doing all but the easiest jobs, you ought to
apply.
But you can still be found disabled even if you're a younger person. If
you’re under age 45 or 50 and you cannot do your past jobs and you cannot
work full time at any regular job, that is enough to get disability
benefits.
It is important to know that being unable to work and being found "disabled"
by the Social Security Administration (SSA) are two different things. It is
often difficult to convince SSA that someone is "disabled" even when they
genuinely cannot work. But it is not impossible.
If you really cannot work, apply for social security disability benefits.
And keep appealing denials if you cannot work.
For even more information you won't find anywhere
else, download our
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Disability
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