Social Security Disability Benefits

When applying for Social Security disability benefits through the government’s “disability planner,” here are some important details to consider:

Qualification for disability benefits

- You should be earning less than $980 a month with the injury or disability, if at all.

- Your disability interferes with basic work-related activities.

- Your disability should be in the Social Security list for conditions that merit benefits. Otherwise, it should be confirmed by proper authorities as equal in severity to those in the list.

- Even if the disability is not in the official list, if it interferes with how you function in your particular field of work, then you may qualify.

- If your age, education, past work experience and transferable skills are not enough to find you work in a field other than where the disability affects you, then you may qualify for benefits.

- If your disability has gone on or is expected to last at least one year, or will result in death, then you may qualify.

Facts about the disability benefits

- Disability benefits will be given sixth months after your disability starts, assuming you applied for the benefits immediately. However, Compassionate Allowances and Quick Disability Determinations can allow for the immediate release of disability benefits, if the applicant qualifies.

- The amount you will receive is based on a credit system, where you must earn four credits (also known as quarter credits) within one year. To get full disability benefits, you generally need to earn 40 credits within 10 years. The value of one credit for 2009 is $1,090 in earnings for the year, and for 2010 the credit worth will be $1,120. That means that for 2009, you should have at least earned $4,360 to have completed all four credits for the year. To find out how much one credit was worth for a past year, please visit the Social Security site or inquire at your local Social Security office. Also, you can still get disability benefits even if you have not completed the ten-year requirement, though your benefits will be reduced.

- Payments will continue as long as your medical condition has not improved, and you are unable to work. This is subject to periodic medical review.

- The monthly payments can be paid by direct deposit to your bank accounts. You can also receive it as a check in your mail, if you wish. Checks are valid for 12 months after the date of issuance.

- If applicable, inquire about special rules for blindness or low vision, benefits for disabled widows or widowers, benefits for disabled children and the Wounded Warriors benefits.
Application

Contact your local Social Security office, or go to socialsecurity.gov online. You should also inquire about other disability and Medicare benefits that you may qualify for.

Sign up on the box at the right to receive more information on disability benefits and similar options that you might need.