8 Secrets to Getting Approved for Disability Benefits

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3 min. read

Are you worried about getting approved for disability benefits? You may have heard it’s not easy if your illness doesn’t have visible symptoms. However, if you cannot work because of your condition, help is available to you. You can apply for monthly disability benefits from the federal government, which the Social Security Administration oversees. If you’re approved for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) payments, it will provide much-needed income after you’re unable to keep working.

Curious about how the system works? Read on for some useful information right now! While none of this advice guarantees approval, it may prove quite helpful for those filing claims.

1. Don’t apply for SSDI benefits while you are still working.

Your chances of approval are better if you’ve already been unable to work for five months due to your illness or condition. Why? Because you must prove you cannot work due to your disability. However, if you experienced a sudden accident that makes it impossible to work, this rule doesn’t apply.

You will need to tell the Social Security Administration if your medical condition was the reason you stopped working at your job. It will also want to know if you had to reduce hours before you left completely. The SSA will ask if you employer provided you with special help. If you have questions about your claim, it may be a good idea to have a Social Security lawyer review it before you submit.

2. Wait to apply until a doctor has already diagnosed you.

It’s not enough to simply state that you know you have a certain medical condition. A doctor has to confirm that your condition is expected to last 12 continuous months—or result in death. This condition must meet the SSA’s definition of disabled.

You can have your claim denied if your doctor expects your condition to improve in less than 12 months.

3. Regularly seek treatment for your disability.

To qualify for benefits, it helps if you’ve regularly talked about your symptoms with your doctor and sought treatment to help improve your condition. Documented evidence of regular appointments and progress notes are helpful for your claim. If you haven’t sought out treatment because you can’t afford a doctor bill, you can get a referral directly from the SSA office. To do so, schedule an in-person appointment.

4. Don’t apply unless you are unable to perform your job duties for 40 hours per week.

If you can still do the tasks in your job description, your claim will be denied. This is because your employer must provide “reasonable accommodations” under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

5. Apply for SSDI benefits only if you are younger than full retirement age.

Depending on when you were born, full retirement age under the SSA varies. If you are full retirement age or older, you won’t be eligible for SSDI because you’ll simply get regular Social Security benefits.

6. Do not apply if your monthly income is over $1,180 (this doesn’t necessarily mean wages!).

Many people earn income even if they cannot actively work due to a disability. This money may come from child support, a spouse’s paychecks, alimony payments, interest you earned on investments, rental property income, royalties or other sources.

Your SSDI claim will be denied if your income is above $1,180 each month. This rule is in place so the program only helps people who truly need the money.

7. Be aware of your work history before applying.

This one is very important! If you have a spotty work history, you may get denied disability benefits. To qualify, you must have worked in a job that withholds FICA taxes for 5-10 years first. SSDI is kind of like taking retirement benefits early—and if approved, it’s about the same dollar amount. Since your Social Security disability insurance policy pays the money you’ll get if you’re approved, that coverage lapses 5 years after you stop working. That’s why your work history gets considered when you submit your claim to the SSA.

This may also be an issue for seasonal or contract workers whose employers didn’t withhold Social Security taxes from their paychecks.

8. You can apply for benefits if your spouse is eligible for SSDI.

If you don’t have enough work history yourself, you may still be eligible for benefits through your spouse. Even if you’re widowed or divorced, SSDI benefits may be available to you as long as you were married at least 10 years. If your spouse dies while getting SSDI payments, you may receive those benefits going forward. This is especially true if you’re raising children you had with your former spouse and they’re younger than 18.