What Does "Social Security Disability" Mean?

The definition of disability under Social Security differs from other programs. Social Security pays just for total disability. No benefits are payable for limited impairment or even for temporary disability.

"Disability" under Social Security is dependent on your inability to work. They consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:
•   You can't do work which you did before;
•   We determine that you can't adjust to other work due to your medical condition(s); and
•   Your disability has lasted or is anticipated to last for around one year or to result in death.

This is a rigid definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families get access to other resources to give support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance, savings and investments.

Along with meeting our definition of disability, you need to have worked long enough--and recently enough--under Social Security to be eligible for disability benefits.

Social Security work credits are derived from your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can make as much as four credits annually.

The amount required for a credit changes from year to year. In 2014, for instance, you earn one credit for every $1,200 of wages or self-employment income. When you have earned $4,800, you have made your four credits for the year.

The number of work credits you will need to be eligible for disability benefits will depend on your age whenever you came to be disabled. Usually, you'll need forty credits, twenty of which were earned in the past decade ending with the year you become impaired. But, younger workers may be considered with less credits.

Having the appropriate attorney can greatly expedite the process of applying for disability. Kassin and Carrow would be honored to help you as you seek to get social security disability benefits. If you live in or near St. Louis or the Metro East Illinois area, contact them today.

Information That You Need To Apply For Disability

We advise that you have the following information close at hand. It'll make finishing the application forms a lot easier for your attorney.

Information About You 

•   Your date and place of birth as well as your Social Security number
•   The name, Social Security number and date of birth or age of your present husband or wife and any previous spouse. It's also wise to know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if applicable)
•   Names and dates of birth of your minor kids
•   Your lender or other financial institution's Routing Transit Number and also the account number, if you would like the benefits to be electronically deposited

Information Regarding Your Medical Condition

•   Name, phone number and address of somebody you'd like to have contacted that knows of your health conditions and that can assist with your application process
•   Comprehensive information regarding your medical ailments, injuries or conditions:
   Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient identification numbers and dates of treatment for every doctor, hospital, and clinic;
   Names of medications you're taking and who administered them; and
   Names and dates of medical tests you've had and who sent you for them.

Information Regarding Your Livelihood

•   The money earned this past year and this present year
•   The address and name of your employer(s) for this year and last year
•   A copy of your Social Security Statement
•   The starting and closing dates of any active U.S. military service that you had prior to 1968
•   A summary of the jobs (as much as five) that you had in the fifteen years prior to becoming unable to work and the dates you worked at those jobs

•   Information about workers' compensation, black lung, and similar benefits you filed, or plan to apply for. These benefits can:
   Be short-term or long-term in nature;
   Include annuities and lump sum transfers that you got in the past;
   Be paid from your employer or your employer's insurance company, private agencies, or Federal, State or any other government or public agencies; and
   Be known as:
1.   Workers' Compensation;
2.   Black Lung Benefits;
3.   Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation;
4.   Civil Service (Disability) Retirement;
5.   Federal Employees' Retirement;
6.   Federal Employees' Compensation;
7.   State or local government disability insurance benefits; or
8.   Disability benefits from the armed forces (Including military retirement pensions based on disability but not Veterans' Administration (VA) benefits.)

Applying for disability can be a tough task to take on. Call the offices of Kassin And Carrow today at 636-936-8300 or visit their website at www.kassincarrow.com. They will work hard to ensure that you get the disability benefits that you deserve.