Common Terms to Know When Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits
If you have a disability and are considering applying for disability benefits, there are a few phrases you should be familiar with to ensure that you understand the requirements for disability benefits eligibility.
There are several terms that pertain to disability benefits eligibility, including the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability, the role of work credits in determining disability benefits eligibility, what constitutes substantial gainful activity, the role of the compassionate allowance, and the SSA’s Blue Book.
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Definition of Disability
To begin, you must meet the SSA’s definition of disability, which states that you cannot engage in significant gainful activity (SGA) due to a medically confirmed physical or mental impairment(s) that is likely to continue at least 12 months or end in death.
Frequently Used Terminologies When Filling Out the Disability Benefits Application
Credits for work
These are accumulated for each year of employment, and your eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is contingent upon the number of work credits you have accumulated up to the date you filed your SSDI application.
For instance, a person over the age of 60 who files for disability payments will require 40 work credits. In 2021, for every $1,470 in covered earnings, you will earn one Social Security or Medicare credit. To obtain the maximum four credits for the year, you must earn $5,880. If you have not reached the age of 24, you may qualify if you have earned six credits during the three years preceding the start of your handicap.
Profitable Activity on a Large Scale (SGA)
To qualify for disability benefits, an individual must be unable to perform any substantial gainful activity (SGA). The amount of monthly earnings considered SGA varies according to the severity of the individual’s handicap.
The Social Security Act provides for a greater SGA amount for those who are statutorily blind. For 2022, the monthly SGA payment for statutorily blind individuals is $2260. The monthly SGA payment for non-blind individuals in 2022 is $1350.
Allowance for Compassion
Compassionate Allowances are a method of rapidly identifying diseases and other medical problems that meet Social Security’s criteria of disability.
These illnesses include specific types of cancer, adult brain disorders, and a variety of rare pediatric disorders. The SSA can easily discover potential Compassionate Allowances, allowing them to make timely determinations regarding an applicant’s disability benefits eligibility.
Blue Book entry
This section outlines the disabilities that the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers serious enough to preclude an individual from working and the medical criteria used to determine whether an individual is eligible for disability benefits.
If you are filing for disability benefits, the phrases may be perplexing, but it is critical that you understand them in order to evaluate your eligibility for payments. A disability lawyer can clarify the application procedure and guide you through it, ensuring that you obtain your disability payments as promptly as possible. You can either apply online, or if you are in the Los Angeles, California area you can visit your local Social Security Disability Offices.
- https://disability.help/california/los-angeles/los-angeles-social-security-disability-office-90061/
- https://disability.help/california/los-angeles/los-angeles-social-security-disability-office-90008/
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- https://disability.help/california/los-angeles/los-angeles-social-security-disability-office-90015/
- https://disability.help/california/los-angeles/los-angeles-social-security-disability-office-90033/
- https://disability.help/california/los-angeles/los-angeles-social-security-disability-office-90017/
- https://disability.help/california/los-angeles/los-angeles-social-security-disability-office-90010/