Social Security Benefits: Disability FAQ

01/31/09

Which social security benefits are you eligible for? Picking through the convoluted regulations can be deeply frustrating, and when you are done, you may have no better idea than before whether you qualify for benefits. To work out which disability benefits you may be able to receive, and to find out whether you will be able to earn an income while receiving disability, read on.

Does SSA offer partial disability benefits?

No, people with partial or short term disabilities are not eligible for disability benefits through Social Security. Social security benefits are available only to applicants who are completely disabled and whose disability is considered likely to last at least a year. (Note that if you qualify for disability benefits, you may hold down a job as long as your maximum possible income is beneath a level determined by SSA.)

I am able to work, but not at the level I used to, nor can I earn the same money I used to. Can I still file for social security benefits?

Yes, if your income is lower than a certain SSA determined level, you are eligible to file for disability benefits. Social Security changes the maximum income level yearly. You can find the current limit in the official SSA web site or in official SSA booklets.

However, your current income is not the only number the state agency will consider when evaluating your case. If you could make more money by switching to another job, you will be ineligible for disability benefits. The state agency will consider your training, experience, age, and medical condition when deciding whether you are able to do other work, so you will not be pushed into doing work for which you are untrained or which strains your physical capacity.

My doctors say there is no treatment that can help me, so why do I have to keep going to doctors?

In the beginning, the state agency that handles your social security benefits will request that you go to doctors several times in order to get a complete evaluation of your medical condition. The doctors you usually go to may not be able to provide enough information; for example, you may need tests or equipment that your doctor does not have. In that case, the state agency may arrange for you to be examined by another doctor.

After you have been ruled eligible for disability benefits, regular examinations will be necessary to track the state of your health. Because not all disabling medical conditions are permanent, your health may improve enough for you to work even without active medical care.