Eligible Disabilities For SSDI in Alabama
Knowledgeable help determining whether you qualify for benefits
At Byron A. Lassiter & Associates, P.C., we understand how stressful it is to live with a disability that often is not only painful, but also prevents you from making a living. Our Mobile and Baldwin County disability lawyer and support staff are committed to making living with a disability easier on you by offering determined, sympathetic representation in appeals when your benefits are denied despite your disability.
Types of disabilities that may qualify for Social Security benefits
In order for our Mobile disability lawyer to help you obtain Social Security disability benefits, you must suffer from a total disability as defined by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA only provides benefits to workers filing for disability insurance who worked long enough in jobs under Social Security, who have a disability that has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or result in death and whose disability leaves them unable to earn an income. Almost any type of disability that meets these requirements may qualify you for benefits:
- Loss of musculoskeletal function or loss of motion
- Certain loss of vision, hearing, speech or other special senses
- Chronic, persistent respiratory infections and diseases, including cystic fibrosis
- Cardiovascular impairments
- Certain digestive system disorders
- Reproductive organ and urinary system diseases, including chronic renal disease
- Certain blood disorders
- Certain skin disorders
- Certain disorders resulting from hormonal imbalances
- Impairments affecting multiple body systems such as Down Syndrome
- Certain neurological problems, including epilepsy, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injuries
- Certain mental disorders, including psychotic disorders, mental retardation, anxiety disorders, personality disorders and autism
- Certain cancers
- Immune system disorders, including autoimmune disorders, immune deficiencies and HIV
Work requirements for disability insurance benefits
In order for our Mobile area SSDI lawyer to help you obtain benefits, you must have worked in jobs covered by Social Security and earned work credits. Work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn a maximum of four credits each year. Because the cost of living changes each year, the amount of income or wages that earns you a credit changes each year, too. The number of credits (and years of work) you need depends on the age you become disabled. Although the exact SSDI law in Alabama and Florida is complicated, in general you need 40 credits overall and 20 credits in the last 10 years before you become disabled. If you are young, you may qualify with fewer credits.
How the SSA Decides if You Are Disabled
If you have a condition that is not listed within the adult listing of impairments, then the Social Security Administration will make a determination about your disability by asking four questions:
- Are you working? The first thing that the SSA will want to know about you is whether or not you are working. While working itself will not automatically disqualify you from receiving SSA benefits, you will be disqualified if you make more than a certain amount of money per month. This is because in order to receive disability benefits, you can’t be engaging in what’s called “substantial gainful activity,” or SGA.
- Is your disability/condition severe? The second thing that the Social Security Administration will consider when deciding whether or not you meet the eligibility requirements for disability insurance is whether or not your condition is severe. The SSA concludes that a condition is severe when:
- It causes marked functional impairment that limits your ability to do basic work-related activities; and
- It has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death.
If the SSA determines that your condition is severe, then it will ask two more questions before deciding that you meet the criteria for “disabled.”
- Can you do the work you did previously? Just because you’re not working doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not able to work. For example, the SSA may determine that your condition does prevent you from performing certain types of work, but you’re actually able to do the same job that you did prior to suffering your disability. If you are able to do the work that you were able to do before your disability, then the SSA will conclude that you don’t have a qualifying disability.
- Can you do other work? Finally, the last question that the SSA will ask is whether or not you can adjust to other work. If you can perform other work and earn enough doing other work to support yourself, you won’t be considered disabled in the eyes of the SSA.
Experienced attorney in Mobile evaluating your disability claim
Although these disabilities are listed for evaluation by the SSA, there is no exact list of qualifying disabilities and no clear answer as to who is eligible for Social Security disability benefits. If you are disabled, it is important to seek the help of a disability lawyer in Mobile who can look at your medical evidence in person and evaluate your claim.
At Byron A. Lassiter & Associates, P.C., we assist an average of 300 clients each year, evaluating disabilities and work histories to help determine whether you qualify for benefits and should pursue them through strong appeals. Although we cannot guarantee results in every case, our experience and legal expertise have enabled us to help an average of 90 percent of clients obtain disability benefits each year.
Helping the disabled in Alabama
If you are disabled, our Social Security disability attorney and staff at Byron A. Lassiter & Associates, P.C. can help you determine whether you are eligible for disability benefits. If you are and your benefits are denied, we pursue your benefits through appeal. To learn more about services and experience, contact us online or by phone toll free at 800.544.3568.