Social Security Disability
Do I Qualify?
You may know that working has become difficult without knowing whether Social Security will consider you disabled. Our disability lawyers at Stansberry Kinsley help people across Alabama understand the medical, work and financial requirements that may apply.
Start with your most recent notice and where your claim stands. You do not need every record before asking for a case review.
Your situation
What to understand first.
Does my diagnosis qualify me?
The name of a condition is only part of the answer. Social Security considers how it limits your ability to work, the supporting medical evidence and how long the limitations have lasted or are expected to last.
For adults, the disability generally must keep you from doing your past work or adjusting to other work and last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months or result in death. Social Security also applies work-and-earnings rules and other requirements for the benefit you are seeking.
What else does Social Security consider?
For SSDI, your work history and work credits matter. SSI has separate income and resource rules. We can look at those requirements with you instead of expecting you to work out which program fits on your own.
What to keep
Start with the information you have.
Keep available records together. This is a starting list, not a requirement to gather everything before getting in touch.
How can I explain what my condition is like?
Describe a usual day and the parts of work that have become difficult. For example, you may struggle to stand, concentrate, keep a schedule or finish a task. Tell us about changes over time, treatment and any side effects you experience. Specific examples help us understand more than a condition’s name alone.
Ask about timing early.
Social Security notices state the dates that apply to you, and some requests have short windows. Keep the notice and its envelope, note when it arrived, and ask for a prompt review of the dates in your notice.
The next step
What happens next.
A case review is a place to begin understanding the questions your claim raises.
Tell us where your claim stands.
Start with the program named in your paperwork, the stage your claim has reached, and the questions you want answered.
Review the available information.
Discuss your notices, the medical and work information already supplied, and anything Social Security has asked for.
Understand the next step.
Ask what further information may be needed and which next steps may be appropriate for your circumstances.
What will it cost?
In Social Security disability cases, the fee an attorney may charge is limited by federal law and must be approved by the Social Security Administration. We’ll explain the proposed fee and any case expenses in a written agreement before you decide whether to hire us.
Talk with us
You can ask about eligibility before you have every answer. Request a Free Case Review or call 844-327-5529.
Related reading: Applying for Benefits · Denied Benefits and Appeals · Does My Condition Qualify Me for Social Security Disability Benefits? · Qualifying for Benefits Under Mental Disorders · Are People with PTSD Entitled to Disability Benefits? · Social Security Disability Veteran’s PTSD.
You can start with the questions you have.