One of the biggest issues that people suffering from severe medical problems have is knowing when is a good time to consider applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Fortunately, by asking certain questions, you can determine whether you might be qualified for disability benefits. Here are five questions you should ask yourself before applying for disability benefits:
- Do you have a severe physical or psychological condition?
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- In order to apply for SSDI or SSI benefits, you must first have a physical or psychological condition that qualifies as a disability. This means that it must be severe enough to impair your ability to function in daily life, either by making it hard to take care of yourself, or by making it difficult to find or maintain gainful employment. If you do not have a condition of this type, you will likely not qualify for disability benefits.
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- Have you been to a doctor?
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- To prove you have a disability, you will need more than your own word as evidence. You will need to speak to a doctor or other medical professional, such as a psychologist, to diagnose your condition. Without a formal medical diagnosis, it will be much harder to obtain disability benefits.
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- Have you followed your doctor’s prescribed treatment?
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- According to Social Security regulations, you cannot apply for disability benefits unless you have followed your doctor’s orders and found that your condition is not improving. This means you must follow their prescribed treatment regimen, including taking whatever medications are prescribed and undergoing any procedures that are required. If you fail to follow through with treatment, you may be denied benefits.
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- Do you meet the economic requirements for disability benefits?
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- Both SSDI and SSI impose economic requirements for people to be able to qualify for them. In the case of SSDI, you must have a sufficient number of work credits from gainful employment. In the case of SSDI, you must fall below a certain threshold in terms of how much money you make and how many assets you personally own.
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- Do you have the documentation you need to apply?
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- Applying for disability benefits will require you to have copies of certain important documents, both to show your economic and disability status. This may include things like income statements, tax receipts, workers’ compensation documents, and anything else that may be relevant to your situation. The more thorough and complete your documentation, the better your odds of obtaining SSDI or SSI benefits.
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.
