An Overview of Social Security Disability Compensation
The number of people who apply for disability compensation yearly is staggering. What’s more surprising is the number of applications that are awarded.
According to the statistics in the Social Security Administration’s website, there were 2,190,196 applications for disability benefits in the year 2007 alone. The number of awards is only 823,106. Los Angeles disability compensation lawyers work hard to help applicants to make their appeal.
The Social Security Administration usually rejects an application because the applicants’ cases do not fall under their strict definition of “disabled”. The first step for any applicant that wants to get disability compensation is to determine whether he or she is qualified in the first place.
Earning Requirements
One of the requirements to be eligible for disability compensation is that you should have met the earning requirements. To do this, you have to pass two earnings tests:
• Recent work test – what age you were when you became disabled
• Duration of work test – did you work long enough in an employment covered by the Social Security Administration
Examples of tables for recent work test and duration of work test are available in the website of the Social Security Administration.
Disability
To be qualified for disability compensation, you must of course be classified as a disabled individual. This does not mean that you can consider yourself disabled just because of your doctor’s medical opinion.
The Social Security Administration has its own set of doctors that will review the case and see if you can be categorized as disabled. However, any medical evidence you submitted will also be considered, and they may ask your doctor a few questions such as:
• What medical condition you have
• When did it begin
• In what ways does it limit your daily activities
• What do your medical test results show
• What kind of treatment have you received for your condition
For a person to be considered disabled, he or she must have an impairment that will last for a minimum of 12 months (1 year), or have an impairment that will most likely cause his or her death. Your disability will be checked against a list of impairments (also available in their website) that contains descriptions of medical conditions that are regarded as so severe that it will automatically mean an approval of your application for disability benefits
You must also ask yourself whether your impairment allows you to do any type of work, or the work that you did in the past, before you had the disability. Is your disability considered severe, so that you are unable to do basic activities (such as sitting, remembering, walking, and the likes)?
What happens after filing my application?
After filing your application, you wait for the result. This usually takes anywhere between three to four months. If your application is approved by the Social Security Administration, your disability benefits will be paid on the sixth month after your disability began. Say for example your disability began on the 1st of January, then after your application has been approved, you may expect your first disability benefit (which will be for the month of July) to be paid on August.
You may appeal the decision if you do not get a positive result. The Social Security Administration does have an appeal system in place. You might want to consult Los Angeles Disability Compensation Lawyers if you feel you need representation for your appeal.
To help you pursue your disability benefits and other claims, consult with our skilled Los Angeles disability attorneys. Visit our website at http://www.socialsecuritylawattorney.com/Disability-Attorneys.html and avail of our free case evaluation.
Pao is an aspiring writer who writes technical as well as literary articles, among others. She is passionate about animal rights, photography, and literature. She hopes to someday be able to share her ideals to more people through her writings.
