Social Security Eligibility

Question:  What is the process that Social Security uses to determine if I am eligible for disability?

1.   ARE YOU WORKING?  If you are and you have gross earnings of $1,220 or more a month in 2019, then you generally cannot be considered disabled.  If you are not earning $1,220, they go on to step 2.

2.  IS YOUR CONDITION "SEVERE"?  You condition(s) must interfere with basic work-related activities and there must be medical evidence that you have either had the conditions(s) for 12 months, or it must be expected to last for 12 months or result in death.  If answer is yes, then process goes to step 3.

3.  IS YOUR CONDITION IN THE LISTING OF DISABLING IMPAIRMENTS?  The Disability Determination Bureau (DDB) keeps a listing of impairments for each of the major body systems that are so severe that they automatically mean that you are disabled.  If your condition does not meet a listing, they look at whether it is a equal severity to a listing; if it is, you are found to be disabled, if not they go on to step 4

4.  CAN YOU DO THE WORK YOU PREVIOUSLY DID?  If your condition is severe but not at the same or equal level in severity to a listing, then the DDB has to determine if it interferes with your ability to do the work you did during the past 15 years.  If it does not, then your claim will be denied; if it does DDB goes on to step 5.

5.  CAN YOU DO ANY OTHER TYPE OF WORK?  If you cannot return to the type of work you did in the past 15 years, DDB looks to see if you can adjust to other types of work.  They consider your medical condition(s), age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you may have.  If you cannot adjust to any other type of work, your disability claim will be approved.  If you can adjust to other types of work, your claim will be denied.