4 Lesser Known Facts About Social Security Disability Benefits in Texas

More than 37 percent of Americans are categorized as disabled by the US Census Bureau in their recent reports. There is a 25 percent probability of a 20-year-old worker to be disabled before retirement. The Social Security Administration offers unique disability benefits to ensure physically or mentally disabled people continue to lead a normal life. Every year, many people apply under the program. Out of these, around two-third applications are outright rejected for not fulfilling the essential guidelines. It is, therefore, important to understand intricate details about the program and consult qualified administrative law attorneys to have better chances of qualifications.

Let’s take a look at four lesser known and discussed facts about social security disability benefits that might help.

1. Every life-altering medical condition isn’t regarded as “disability”

A person who applies for social security disability benefits doesn’t qualify automatically for the benefits. They must meet some basic eligibility requirements. The SSDI program requires an applicant to be a US citizen. The applicant needs to prove that a disorder or combination of disorders is keeping them from employment. Moreover, the stated disability must be a part of the listing manual, commonly referred to as the Blue Book. The Blue Book broadly covers a number of disorders that automatically qualify for the SSDI program without saying.

Some of the most common ones include:

— Musculoskeletal problems
— Cardiovascular conditions
— Respiratory disorders
— Neurological disorders
— Various Syndromes
— Cancer
— Digestive Tract Disorders
— Hematological disorders

2. The stated disorder must be a long-term medical condition

The severity of a disorder is also factored-in before accepting an SSDI claim. The applicant, therefore, needs to prove that that the disability is expected to last at least a year or may lead to death. That said, the applicant also needs to furnish medical records stating details about medicines or the modes of treatment tried till date. If a disability can be treated with medications or a person shows improvement in the condition, their claim doesn’t qualify for the next stage.

3. Working Credits are Factored Before Accepting a Claim

To get the disability benefits, a claimant needs to have worked for a certain period in the past. The standard rule says, the longer the work period, the better. On top of that, a claimant cannot have individual countable assets in excess of $2000, else the application won’t go through at first place. The maximum limit of asset value can also change, according to government reforms. The Social Security Administration conducts two tests to check whether an application deserves to go through, namely the “recent work test” and the “duration work test.” The recent work test correlates the age of an individual with their work experience as a criterion to qualify whereas the duration work test counts the total work experience of an individual, irrespective of age.

4. Approved Disability Benefits are Applicable for a Lifetime

SSA follows a standard practice of reconsidering a disabled beneficiary every five to seven years to assess change or improvement in the situation. Such reviews also keep a check on any new medical treatments that can help in improving a person’s condition. Nonetheless, the initial application takes anywhere from three to five months and requires the patient to disclose several personal and medical details. The paperwork is also exhaustive; therefore, it is advisable to seek assistance from administrative law attorneys and lawyers in Austin, Texas to increase the odds of getting the claim through.

The Bottom Line

The Social Security Administration has appointed qualified disability examiners to ensure only genuine applications are accepted under the program. As the program requires medical records and the doctor’s word to establish the claim, a claimant should furnish only authentic information. , If you need help to represent your claim and increase your chances of getting accepted, you can hire a local administrative law attorney for the same.