One complication that people sometimes run into when applying for Social Security Disability benefits is that they disagree with the Social Security Administration about whether or not they are actually disabled. After all, the SSA has a very strict definition of disability.
One qualification that the SSA looks for is that the disability will either last for the rest of a person‘s life or for, at minimum, the next 12 months. Essentially, the threshold for disability is a condition that will impact that person‘s earning ability for the next year or more.
Why this causes complications
There are a few reasons why this can get complicated. First of all, the SSA may disagree with someone about how long their condition will actually last. This is why it’s very important to have medical evidence. If a noteworthy doctor examines a person’s condition and decides that it’s going to last for the next five years, this can be strong proof to convince the SSA to approve that disability claim.
But things can also get complicated when a person will not be disabled for long enough to qualify for benefits. For example, say that someone has a relatively serious injury that’s going to prevent them from working for the next nine months. They are going to see a significant reduction in wages, and they may feel that they deserve benefits due to the severity of their injury. But since it will only last for 3/4 of a year, they would not technically qualify under the SSA definition.
This is just one factor to consider when seeking potential benefits. Be sure you understand exactly what legal steps to take.