Man filling out social security disability form.

How to Determine Your Eligibility for Social Security Disability Benefits

Individuals with disabilities are often unable to work, making it nearly impossible for them to pay for life’s basic necessities. Fortunately, however, individuals who meet certain requirements may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. If you are unable to work due to a disability, please review the information below on determining your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits. For additional information, please contact a Social Security disability benefits attorney. 

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You have difficulty working due to a medical condition,
  • Your medical condition makes it difficult for you to adjust to alternative work, and
  • Your medical condition has lasted more than a year or is expected to result in death.

However, meeting these conditions only determines your initial eligibility. In other words, it doesn’t guarantee that the Social Security Administration will approve your request for benefits. For example, even if you meet these eligibility requirements, your request may be denied if there are other laws you can rely on to obtain benefits. Determining your eligibility for benefits can be complicated, so we recommend that you contact a Social Security disability benefits attorney to assess your options before beginning the Social Security disability benefits application process.  

Social Security Administration Disability Determination

As we explained above, simply meeting the eligibility requirements doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be approved for Social Security disability benefits. A major factor in determining whether you’ll be approved for benefits is your medical condition. In order to receive approval, your medical condition must meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of a disability.  When determining whether your medical condition meets the definition of a disability, the Social Security Administration examines the following factors:

  • Your current employment status,
  • Your current monthly earnings, 
  • The extent to which your disability interferes with your ability to work,
  • Whether your disability is on the Social Security Administration’s list of disabling conditions,
  • Whether you’re able to perform the same work-related tasks you could prior to your medical condition, and 
  • Whether you’re able to perform alternative work or can perform your current work duties with accommodations.

 

Contact Our El Paso Social Security Disability Benefits Attorney 

 

If you would like to apply for Social Security disability benefits, you should contact a Social Security disability benefits attorney for assistance. When you hire attorney Jon Sipes to assist you with your Texas Social Security disability benefits claim, you can rest assured that he will utilize his extensive knowledge of the Social Security disability benefits process to help you obtain a just result. Jon Snipes regularly helps individuals with disabilities obtain Social Security disability benefits in El Paso and surrounding Texas communities, and he understands what it takes to make a claim successful. Please contact us today to schedule a consultation.