SSDI

If you’ve spent years or even decades as a member of the workforce, you might never consider the possibility that you won’t be able to continue working and providing for your family. A disability can change this.

Have you developed a medical condition or injury that will prevent you from working for an extended period of time? If so, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) through the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). This program offers disabled individuals who’ve worked in the past financial assistance to buy food, pay for housing, and more.

What is SSDI?

Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal program offering financial assistance to those who find themselves unable to work due to a disability. It varies from other types of Social Security programs, such as Supplemental Security Income, in several ways.

For example, a person’s means and resources are the factors that may most significantly influence their eligibility for SSI. On the other hand, when determining whether an applicant qualifies for SSDI benefits, the SSA will primarily account for such factors as:

• Their work history
• How many work credits they have earned
• The degree to which they have paid into Social Security through their taxes

Additionally, the severity of an individual’s disability will typically influence the amount of benefits they might receive through SSI or other such programs. That isn’t the case when someone applies for SSDI.

SSDI 2023 benefits can total as much as $3,627 per month. However, the amount of benefits an applicant may receive can vary substantially.

Eligibility for SSDI

Qualifying for SSDI benefits requires meeting certain medical and non-medical criteria. From a medical perspective, an individual who applies for this form of Social Security disability benefits needs to have a disability that is likely to last at least 12 months or result in their eventual passing.

The SSA’s Blue Book is a resource containing a list of disabilities for SSI and SSDI. If you’re thinking about submitting a Social Security disability application, consider referring to the Blue Book first to confirm there is a listing for your disability.

When applying for SSDI, you’ll need to provide medical evidence showing that the nature of your disability prevents you from doing the type of work you’ve performed in the past. The SSA will also need to review the evidence you provide to determine if the severity of your disability is great enough that it would also prevent you from performing other types of work.

Non-medical criteria to qualify for SSDI benefits primarily consist of the number of work credits you have earned over the course of your years of employment. As of 2023, for every $1,640 you earn, you accrue one work credit. The maximum number of work credits you may accrue over the course of a year is four.

Be aware that the process of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance can require submitting significant documentation of your medical condition and work history. This is one of many reasons to consider hiring an attorney when applying for any form of Social Security disability. Instead of idly looking for signs that you will be approved for disability when you submit your application, you can coordinate with a professional whose expertise may improve your odds of securing the benefit for which you may be eligible.

Benefits of SSDI

SSDI can prove very helpful for someone who struggles financially when a disability prevents them from working. Naturally, having financial support from the federal government can help an individual and their family address their basic needs. When an individual with a disability has the financial assistance they require, they may also be better-equipped to focus on their health, as they won’t be stressed over their economic woes.

Financial assistance is the main benefit SSDI offers. However, it may not be the only benefit. For example, if an individual receives SSDI benefits for two years, they may automatically qualify for Medicare no matter what age they are.

Someone receiving SSDI might also qualify to participate in a work incentive program. Such a program could allow them to continue receiving disability benefits while returning to work. Such work incentives can allow someone to essentially test whether they’re able to return to work. Essentially, a disabled person might not know whether they have recovered to a degree that they can comfortably return to work and begin earning an income. Through a work incentive program, they can attempt to start working again without having to worry about losing benefits if they find they aren’t able to resume a normal work schedule right away.

Challenges and Criticisms of SSDI

Despite the benefits that SSDI may offer to recipients of benefits, the program is not free from criticism. Examples of challenges and criticisms of SSDI include the following:

High Denial Rate

Generally, the approval rate for initial Social Security disability applications ranges between about 20% and 25%. The SSA often denies initial applications because applicants fail to provide sufficient medical documentation proving they meet the SSA’s eligibility requirements.

An applicant typically has the option to appeal the SSA’s decision when the SSA denies an application. However, applicants should understand it’s somewhat rare for the SSA to approve applications when disabled individuals first submit them.

This is another reason to consider enlisting a lawyer’s help when applying for SSDI. If you hire a lawyer from the start, they may assist you in gathering the documentation necessary to demonstrate that you have earned sufficient work credits and have a disability that qualifies you for SSDI benefits. Even if you chose not to hire an attorney when you initially submitted your application, you may still hire one to assist you with an appeal if the SSA denies your application.

Fraud

The low acceptance rate and high denial rate of SSDI claims may have a valid justification: fraud. Every year, individuals submit claims for disability benefits they might not truly deserve. Thus, the SSA needs to carefully review all applications to guard against potential fraudsters successfully taking advantage of the system.

It’s worth noting that the public’s perception of Social Security disability fraud may exaggerate the problem. According to the SSA, approximately 1% of approved disability claims are fraudulent. If you have a valid claim, odds are good that anyone attempting to commit fraud won’t interfere with your claim too significantly. The main problem is that attempted fraud burdens the system and can prevent the SSA from operating as efficiently as it otherwise might.

Cumbersome Processes

When you submit an application for SSDI, don’t expect the SSA to arrive at a decision immediately. It typically takes an applicant three to five months to hear back from the SSA after submitting an application.

Remember, the initial application might also receive a denial from the SSA. If an applicant has to appeal the SSA’s decision to continue pursuing the benefits for which they may be eligible, it might take them even longer to eventually receive said benefits.

This is another common criticism of SSDI and Social Security disability benefits in general. Some feel the application and approval processes are unreasonably slow and cumbersome.

Luckily, the SSA is consistently working to address these concerns. The SSA is doing so by:

• Requesting more funding: The SSA often seeks additional funding from the government. With more funding, the SSA could hire more employees, potentially allowing it to operate with greater efficiency.
• Automation: Like many companies, agencies, and organizations, the SSA routinely looks for tasks and processes that it may automate using innovative technologies. Automating these tasks can free up the bandwidth of current employees. This gives them more freedom to focus on tasks that involve processing applications.
• Enforcing stricter eligibility requirements: This may seem like a measure that would adversely impact those seeking SSDI benefits. If eligibility requirements become stricter, one might understandably conclude it will become even more difficult to receive an approval when they submit an application. Although this is a natural concern, ideally, enforcing stricter eligibility requirements will help the SSA weed out fraudsters even more effectively than it already does. This may eventually allow the system to operate with greater efficiency in the long run.

Once more, although these criticisms and concerns exist, they shouldn’t imply that SSDI is an inherently flawed program. On the contrary, SSDI offers tremendous value to those who qualify for benefits. It’s simply important for someone applying for SSDI to realistically understand the program’s limitations when doing so.

Applying for SSDI: Speak With an Attorney Today

SSDI is a federal program that plays a critical role in the lives of many individuals and families every year. If you have worked in the past, but are no longer able to do so because of a disability, SSDI could help you feed your loved ones and keep a roof over your head.

Just remember that the process of applying for SSDI can be fairly complex. One way to optimize your chances of securing benefits is to hire an attorney. While you focus on your health, they can focus on strengthening your application. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation to get connected with an independent social security lawyer who subscribes to the website and may be able to help with your case.