APPLYING FOR BENEFITS

Applying for disability benefits can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while blindfolded, especially when you’re doing it all alone. But don’t worry. If you’ve ever found yourself lost in a sea of paperwork and regulations, you’re in good company.

To help you cut through the red tape of it all, here’s the five-bullet truth about applying for SSI and/or SSDI in today’s America:

• Severe Condition: Your disability must be serious enough to prevent you from handling a full-time job.

NOTE: You don’t have to be confined to a bed—just unable to sustain a full time position.

• Duration: Your condition should be expected to last at least twelve months.

NOTE: You don’t need to wait a year to apply. In fact, you can start the process as soon as you and your doctor believe the condition won’t immediately improve.

• Work Status: While it’s generally easier to qualify if you’re not working, you can still apply if you’re working and earning below a certain threshold.

NOTE: If you try working despite your disability, be careful—if it lasts more than six months, it could hurt your case. But if you have to stop working early because of your condition, it may actually help by showing you can’t do the job.

• Medical Records: While you can apply without medical records, having them strengthens your case.

NOTE: You don’t need a complete diagnosis or the perfect treatment plan to get started— just get the forms, fill them out, and keep up with your health.

• Non-Medical Factors: Factors like your work history or income level also play a role in determining your eligibility, so be sure to include accurate and complete information in your application.

NOTE: Don’t get bogged down in the details. Focus on filling out your application and let Social Security get back to you with the results.