DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

  Social Security disability (SSDI) is a complicated program which covers certain insured workers or past workers against long-term disability.  SSDI does not cover everyone or everything. Here are some common things that SSDI will not cover.   1.  A short-term impairment which is not expected to end in death or last for a continuous period of at least 12 months is not covered. 2.  Any impairment for an individual who is not insured under the Social Security Act.  A claimant must have earned a minimum number of work credits (also called "quarters of coverage") to be insured.  An adult age 31 or over needs to have worked at least 5 years out of the most recent 10 years and paid FICA (the Social Security tax). 3.  No benefit is payable to a claimant while he/she is incarcerated for a period of 30 days or more. 4.  No benefit is payment to an individual who is able to work at Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).  SGA is defined in 2024 ...

 There is a recent rule change regarding "past relevant work" (PRW) that significantly effects Social Security disability cases. If a claimant over 50 is physically limited, the key issue is whether they can do their past relevant work (PRW). Until recently Social Security looked at past relevant work for a period of 15 years before the alleged disability began. However, on June 22, 2024 Social Security changed the rule about past relevant work (PRW).  They now only consider PRW that occurred within the past 5 years. This means there are fewer jobs and potential transferable skills that could get the claimant denied.   Let's Define the Term "Past Relevant Work" (PRW) 1.  Work that was performed during the past 5 years prior to the alleged disability. 2.  Work that was performed at the level of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).  For example, in 2024 SGA means earning a gross wage of at least $1,550 per month.  In 2024, SGA was $1,550 per month....

I am often asked, "Can I work at all while I'm getting Social Security disability benefits?" I wanted to see what information is out there, so I searched the question on the internet and got all kinds of right, wrong, partially right and mostly confusing answers. So here:  let me give you the straight facts about working while you receive Social Security disability or SSDI.  To clarify, this information does NOT apply to Supplemental Security Income or SSI, which is going to have different rules about income. Social Security uses a term we must understand.  The term is " Substantial Gainful Activity " or SGA.   That refers to an amount of earnings (from work) that will disqualify you for disability benefits.   SGA in 2024 is earning wages or self-employment income of at least $1,550 per month (gross, before tax).  If you earn that amount, you are working at SGA in Social Security's judgment and are not eligible for SSDI benefits. Notice I said "in 2024....

Getting approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is not as simple as filling out an application and waiting.  It is a very long and involved process that many claimants compare to working a full-time job. HERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER WITH SSDI   1.          Slowness.   Takes an average of 225 days to get an initial decision.   If you add the usual appeals process, a favorable decision can take 18 to 24 months or longer. 2.        High Denial Rate .   About 75 percent of disability applications are denied initially (in the first stage). 3.         Difficulty Getting Medical   Records .   Doctors may not respond to a request for records. Or their records may not be adequate. 4.        Stringent Burden of Proof.   The claimant must prove disability according to Social Security’s st...

In order to get  Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, you must prove that you have a severe condition that prevents you from working.  Some medical/mental conditions are more difficult to prove. Here are some conditions that can be hard to prove for SSDI benefits: ADHD Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain Chronic Fatigue Migraine headaches Mental Illness (anxiety, fatigue, PTSD) Ehlos-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Traumatic Brain Injury]      Some of these are hard to prove because they are subjective; you cannot do a laboratory test or use an imaging study to diagnose them or prove their severity.      Unexplained pain or fatigue is very difficult to prove.  Social Security will always seek to find a physical CAUSE of the pain or fatigue and if they cannot, they will be skeptical.  SOME TIPS THAT MAY HELP YOU WIN A DISABILITY CLAIM Get treated by a specialist. See your specialist regularly - not just once a year. Follow prescribed treatment.  ...

  With more than half a million Social Security disability claims pending nationwide, that agency is slower than ever and issuing more denials than ever.   Here's what you will probably need to win a disability claim in 2024 and beyond: 1.  At least one severe impairment that prevents you from working, one that will last for at least 12 straight months and is medically determinable. 2.  Good medical documentation from doctors, clinics, hospitals or other providers . 3.  An evaluation of how your impairments impede your functional abilities. 4.  A good disability lawyer (not required but highly recommended). I am quick to point out that Social Security does not require a lawyer to to apply for benefits.  However, I'm just as quick to point out Social Security's very high denial rates :  around 75 percent at the application level, and up to 85-90 percent at the first appeal . And the long wait for a decision.  In 2023 , 30,000 claima...

You may qualify for Social Security disability benefits with the following criteria: 1.  You have worked at least 5 of the 10 years before the disability began, thus earning the necessary work credits .  You must pay in to take out. 2.  You have a medically determinable severe impairment which     a.  has lasted for at least 12 straight months     b.  is expected to last for at least 12 straight months, OR     c.  will end in death (terminal) 3.  Your medical/mental condition(s) preclude working at substantial gainful activity (in 2024, you can't earn at least $1,550 per month). 4.   You have excellent medical records (documentation) to prove the severity of your impairment and how it effects you ability to perform work-like functions. 5.  You are not currently working at "Substantial Gainful Activity," i.e., you are not working and earning wages, commissions, tips or self-employment income of ...