When people apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), they often do not realize there is an economic as well as medical aspect to their qualifications. For those who are not careful, it is possible to get disqualified on an economic basis even if you would otherwise qualify for disability benefits. Here are five economic reasons your SSDI or SSI claim might be rejected:
- Failing to provide adequate documentation
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- One of the primary ways that people can have their SSDI or SSI claims denied is failing to provide sufficient documentation for their claim. For the economic criteria, this means failing to provide evidence of income or personal assets, such as tax forms or workers compensation claims. Failure to provide this documentation can result in a denial, regardless of your disability status.
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- Making too much money
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- For better or worse, SSDI and SSI are programs intended to help people who cannot support themselves through their own income. This means that if you make too much money per month, through work or otherwise, you cannot obtain Social Security disability benefits, regardless of the nature or extent of your disability. The reasoning for this is if you make enough money to surpass that limit, you do not need the benefits.
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- Being able to work
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- Likewise, if it is demonstrated that your disability is not sufficiently disabling to prevent you from working, you may not be eligible for SSDI or SSI benefits. This includes any signs that you failed to control your disability due to ignoring your doctor’s orders. The preference of the Social Security Administration is that people who are able to work, should, and not be reliant on benefits to support themselves.
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- Not having enough work credits
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- For SSDI specifically, you need to earn a certain number of “work credits” in order to qualify. These credits are earned by working a job and paying into Social Security taxes. If you are over the age of thirty, you need a minimum of forty credits, while younger people are able to get away with less and still qualify, at least for the economic criteria.
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- Having too much in assets
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- When applying for SSDI, it is not only your income that goes under the economic microscope. They will also look to see how much you own in personal assets, based on a variety of criteria. If the amount you own in personal assets exceeds the mandatory maximum, your claim may be denied for economic reasons.
If you or a loved one need assistance applying for SSDI or SSI benefits, it is important that you seek the guidance of an experienced Social Security Disability benefits lawyer. The lawyers at Sullivan & Kehoe, LLP have over 50 years of combined experience between its attorneys and are available to you or your loved one in obtaining Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits. To schedule a consultation with our New York Social Security Disability benefits lawyers, call (631) 823-7155.
