Who Is Eligible for Social Security Benefits?

02/15/09

Q: If a person is currently unable to work due to injury, can he receive social security benefits?

A: There are several criteria that determine whether or not an injury makes a person eligible for social security benefits. You must have been working and insured at the time of your injury. You must have been employed for five out of the previous ten years as a mimimum. That employment must have been with a position that had you contributing to Social Security. You must be younger than the retirement age in order to receive social security benefits via the disability program. Last, but not least, your injury needs to be such that you will not be able to join the workforce again for a minimum of 12 months. The Social Security Administration does not extend benefits to individuals with partial or short term disabilities.

Q: How long can an individual receive social security benefits?

A: Until the injury has improved enough to allow a person to reenter the workforce, he will receive social security benefits. In that case, the benefits would continue until the second month after the medical condition had ended. Social security benefits would also end if a person reaches retirement age and is eligible for retirement benefits. Disability benefits would be converted to retirement benefits. Social Security will conduct reviews of your file periodically to determine if your medical condition has changed. If your medical condition does not change, though, you will not have to apply again to remain eligible for benefits.

Q: When will social security benefits begin, after an individual has received approval for disability?

A: A person must be out of the workforce due to the medical condition for a minimum of five months before social security benefits can begin. Payments will usually begin the sixth month. If you are still awaiting initial approval, it is difficult to predict when you will receive notice of a decision. The thing that usually affects how long it takes to process an application is the wait for medical records. If it takes a while to receive requested medical records, the disability examiner assigned to your case must wait until he receives them to approve or your deny your application. Most applications are reviewed and the claimant notified of a decision within four months.

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