Just because you’re disabled in New York doesn’t mean that you automatically qualify for Social Security benefits. Even if you can’t continue working at your current job, you may not qualify if you don’t meet certain requirements. However, the Social Security Administration might fast-track your application under certain conditions.
How do you qualify for Social Security Disability?
To qualify for Social Security Disability, you’ll need to prove that you’ll be disabled for a year or more. SSD doesn’t offer short-term disability benefits, so you might not qualify if you can go back to work within the next year. You’ll also have to prove that your disability is so severe that you can’t work in another position. If you can’t maintain your current job but may be able to work somewhere else, the SSA might deny your claim.
On a similar note, you may not qualify if you’re still working. You don’t have to stop working for the rest of your life, but the SSA can reject your application if you make $1,310 a month or more. The SSA might be more likely to accept your disability claim if your condition is on the government’s list of disabling medical conditions. If not, you could still qualify if your disability is severe.
If you have a terminal illness, you don’t have time to wait for the SSA to review and accept your claim. The SSA has a program called “Compassionate Allowance” that expedites your claim if you have a terminal illness like ALS or certain types of cancer. Your attorney may be able to tell you if your illness is on this list and how to notify the SSA about it.
Do you need an attorney when you apply for disability?
Some people have no idea that they don’t qualify for disability when they apply. An attorney may save you a lot of time and frustration by telling you from the beginning if you could qualify or not. A legal professional may also tell you if the SSA has your condition on the list of qualifying disabilities. If not, you might still qualify if your disability is severe enough and you will be out of work for more than a year.