For applicants to be eligible to claim SSDI benefits, they must show that they cannot engage in a substantial gainful activity (SGA). To determine if an SGA is eligible under SSA requirements, it means that the applicant’s monthly gross income must fall below the current limit set by the SSA. The current SGA limit determined by the SSA is $1,350 per month gross wages. If an applicant’s SGA is beyond this limit, they risk their SSDI application getting denied.
Generally, SSDI benefits are intended for workers whose disabilities are expected to last a minimum of one year or result in death. However, a claim is usually denied if an applicant’s condition, disability, or injury is reasonably and medically expected to heal or recover from the time of their injury. Thus, an applicant will be denied their SSDI application if their disability, injury, or condition is reasonably expected to heal or recover within weeks or months.
Since SSDI benefits are meant to provide monetary assistance for injured workers’ recovery time is a significant criterion in determining whether an applicant’s claim for SSDI is approved. Per SSA guidelines, applicants’ conditions or disabilities must be subject to reasonable recovery for at least a year from injury to get their SSDI application approved. However, it is essential to clarify those applicants whose recovery was initially determined to be under one year but who did not recover within that time frame because they failed to follow the prescribed therapy or medication is not subject to claim SSDI benefits by stating that their recovery took more than a year. In addition, applicants whose injuries or conditions were determined to take at least a year to recover from are subject to follow the prescribed therapy or medication as a condition for their SSDI claim.
Another criterion in determining a worker’s eligibility for SSDI benefits is their work credit at the time of injury. Work credit is an applicant’s earned qualifier on an annual basis in any job or position, whether they paid FICA (Social Security) taxes. To be eligible for SSDI benefits, an applicant generally must have earned 40 work credits by the time of their injury.
Obtaining approval for SSDI benefits is critical to a lot of disabled workers. However, given the SSA’s complex requirements and forms, most may need help filing for an SSDI claim. Thus, it may be valuable to retain the assistance of an attorney well-versed in SSA regulations, especially for SSDI claims. Failure to have the necessary credit threshold is a common reason an SSDI benefits claim is denied.
If you or a loved one is eligible to claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you can count on us to assist you in filing your claim. At McKown and Myers, it’s our job to help Hoosiers like you get the compensation they need to get medical treatment and support their families. We’re here to answer your questions about your SSDI application – call 765-668-7531 or complete our contact form below. There’s no obligation – we’re here to help.
Availing access to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an essential lifeline for many disabled workers that relies on this income to support themselves and their families during challenging times. However, the national approval rate for initial applications for SSDI benefits has been very slim. According to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Annual Statistical Report in 2020, awards given to initial applications for SSDI benefits have been only around 20% throughout the years. Given the importance of this benefit to disabled workers, this statistic is critically low. Thus, trying to avail the best application and receiving approval for one’s SSDI application at the initial outset is essential.