Are you facing financial hardships due to your disability? You may be eligible for Social Security disability. Our Social Security disability attorneys understand that it can be difficult to muddle through all of the government's requirements for financial assistance.
For your convenience, our social security attorneys at Foster & Harmon have compiled the three requirements you will need to meet to receive Social Security disability.
1.) Your condition prevents you from being gainfully employed.
Here is how the Social Security Administration (SSA) will analyze the severity of your condition:
- Does your condition interfere with your ability to maintain gainful employment?
- If no, then you do not qualify.
- If yes, then continue reading.
It is important to remember that the will expect you to adapt to a new career, if your old one becomes impossible with your disability. As long as you can maintain some form of gainful employment, you do not qualify for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration will make this determination based on your past work history, education, and transferable skills.
You can still have a job and qualify for disability benefits. However, it must be clear that your job does not provide enough for you to live on.
2.) You haven’t earned over the monthly limit.
The vast majority of income earned in the United States is covered under Social Security. For 2018, if your monthly earnings are over $1,180 you are not eligible for Social Security disability. For blind applicants, the 2018 monthly limit is $1,970. The limits are usually increased yearly to reflect the natural growth of wages and other economic conditions.
3.) You have earned enough Social Security credits.
In this situation, "credits" refers to your employment history. The amount of credits needed to be eligible for disability is dependent on your age. Ultimately, you have to have been paying money into the Social Security system in order to collect benefits. To earn one Social Security credit in 2018, you must earn $1,320 in wages or self-employment income. You can earn a maximum of four credits per year.
If you qualify for , you’ll want to contact an experienced disability attorney. A Social Security attorney will be able to help you apply for disability so you can get the financial assistance you need. Since laws concerning Social Security change from year to year, it is important to hire an attorney who has the right experience to represent your case. For example, a Social Security disability lawyer will know how to interpret and use your medical records to prove the extent of your disability. When you apply for Social Security disability, it helps to have an attorney familiar with Social Security law.
The Lansing disability attorneys at Foster & Harmon P.C. are dedicated to helping you apply for disability benefits or even create an estate plan. For more information regarding Social Security or estate planning, give us a call at (517) 337-4600 for your free initial phone consult.