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Do I Qualify for Disability?

Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal LPA /  SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY /  Qualifying
Applying 
Denied 
SSI 
Disability FAQs 

What You Need to Qualify for Disability Benefits

It’s obvious to you when your health is so bad that you’re unable to work.

But you can’t just send a doctor’s note to get Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.

Social Security runs an entire complicated legal system that decides who receives disability income.

Under that system, you have to prove three things:

  • You can’t continue in your previous job because of your health.
  • Your medical conditions also stop you from switching to a new job.
  • Your impairments will last at least a year—or could even lead to death.

It sounds simple enough, but it takes evidence to back up each point. Most people get denied the first time they apply.

You have a lot on the line. The monthly checks and Medicare or Medicaid health coverage that come with disability benefits can bring peace and dignity to your life.

Let an experienced disability attorney from Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal help you.

Our SSD lawyers work with this system and its thousands of rules every day. It’s our mission to guide you through.

We want you join the people who say “Helping me, that’s HNB.”

Talk to HNB  Talk to HNB 

    Your Eligibility for Different Types of Benefits

    You qualify for Social Security Disability benefits when you lose the ability to work before retirement age. When you reach retirement age, you receive retirement benefits instead.

    Social Security runs two different disability programs for working-age people, with different criteria depending your work history and income:

    • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): SSDI benefits are for people who have worked enough to earn enough “work credits,” especially in the 10 years before applying for disability. The number of credits you need can vary with your age. SSDI is a form of insurance policy that takes effect when you pay a substantial amount into the system through your paychecks.
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI provides disability income for people without significant recent work history. Instead, SSI looks at your income and other economic assets. If your financial resources fall under a certain amount, you can qualify for SSI. Families of children with disabilities can also qualify for financial assistance through SSI.
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    Attorney Mike Rake meets with Ohio worker Mark Patton in front of an office window. Let HNB help you understand what types of disability benefits you could qualify to receive.

    Attorney Mike Rake, left, meets with an Ohio worker. Let HNB help you understand what types of disability benefits you could qualify to receive.

    Does My Impairment Qualify for Benefits?

    Social Security maintains a list of impairments that can qualify you for benefits. But if your health problem isn’t listed, you can still receive benefits if the problems you have leave you unable to function.

    These are some of the impairments we see people winning benefits for:

    Every part of your disability application must be backed up by medical records detailing your particular condition—along with information about your past jobs and the demands those jobs put on you.

    Get someone else to take care of documenting your qualifications so you can take care of your health.

    HNB does the legwork for you. We want to see you get the benefits you need to secure your life.

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    Ohio worker Mark Patton sits at an office table looking at prescription bottles. An attorney from HNB can help you show Social Security how your impairment qualifies for disability benefits.

    When you’re wondering whether your impairment qualifies for Social Security Disability benefits, an attorney from HNB can help.