Free Disability Evaluation
Social Security Disability
Disability
Disability
is something most people do not like to think about. But the chances
that you will become disabled probably are greater than you realize.
Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 3 in 10 chance of
becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.
This
website provides basic information on Social Security disability
benefits but is not intended to answer all questions. For specific
information about your situation, you should talk with a Social
Security advocate or attorney. You can get a Free Disability
Evaluation by filling in the form above.
Who Can Get Disability Benefits?
Social Security pays benefits to people who cannot work because
they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one
year or result in death. Federal law requires this very strict
definition of disability. While some programs give money to people
with partial disability or short-term disability, Social Security
does not.
Certain family members of disabled workers can
also receive money from Social Security.
How do I apply for disability benefits?
You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become
disabled. It can take a long time to process an application for
disability benefits (three to five months). To apply for disability
benefits, you will need to complete an application for Social
Security Benefits and the Disability Report. For faster service you may want to have
a
Social Security Advocate or Attorney help in the filing process.
This is some of the information that will be needed to get the
process started.
The information the SSA office needs, includes:
• Your Social Security number;
• Your birth or baptismal
certificate;
• Names, addresses and phone numbers of the
doctors, caseworkers, hospitals and clinics that took
care
of you and dates of your visits;
• Names and dosage of all the medicine you take;
• Medical
records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and
caseworkers that you already have in
your possession;
• Laboratory and test results;
• A
summary of where you worked and the kind of work you did; and
• A copy of your most recent W-2 Form or,
if you are self-employed, a federal tax return for the
past year.