People with a disability face challenges that others don’t. Because of this, the Social Security Administration (SSA) gives benefits to people with a disability who cannot work to earn a living. Everyone with a qualifying disability can get these benefits if they meet the requirements. The SSA commonly rejects applications, but applicants can appeal their decision to receive their lawful benefits.
Meeting the requirements
People with a disability can ask the SSA for monthly payments that can help them support themselves. However, applicants must have a qualifying disability and comply with other requirements to get these benefits. For the SSA, a person qualifies for benefits if one of the following is true:
- They cannot work because of their medical condition
- They cannot do the work they did before they got their medical condition
- They have a condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death
Additionally, applicants who want Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits must have worked in jobs covered by Social Security for a certain time. For Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, applicants must have limited income and resources to be eligible.
The right to appeal
If your disability meets the SSA definition of a disability, you can apply for your rightful benefits. Whether you apply for SSDI or SSI benefits, you will need to comply with the requirements to succeed in your application. However, you must know that it is not rare for the SSA to reject applications on the first try. If this happens to you, you have the right to appeal their decision. This is your right under the law of the United States, and you can fight for it in court.