Do You Qualify for Disability Benefits?

The Social Security Administration uses five basic questions to decide if you qualify for Social Security benefits on the basis of being disabled. The legal team of attorneys, paralegals and administration at Brock & Stout are ready to help you navigate and understand these questions.

1. Are you working?

First, you must prove you are unable to perform any substantial gainful activity. You must be unable to perform your current job or any other job for a year or more.

2. Is your disability severe?

Your disability must impede basic but required work-related activities for your claim to be approved.

3. Is your disability found on the list of disabling medical conditions?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) keeps a list of medical conditions that are considered severe. These conditions automatically qualify you as disabled. If your disability is not found on the list, then the SSA will determine if your condition is of equal medical severity and warrants the qualification of disabled.

4. Can you do the work you did previously?

If your condition is not on the list of medical conditions that meet the required level of severity, then your condition must interfere with your ability to do the work you did in your previous jobs.

5. Can you do other types of work?

Are you able to perform any other type of work that your age, education, skill-level and past work experience qualify you for? If it is determined that you are capable of working in any capacity, your claim will likely be denied.

Have questions about these questions? The dedicated attorneys at Brock & Stout are waiting to assist you in each part of the Social Security claim process. We can help you gather the information necessary to make your claim.

We are ready to help you navigate each step of claiming your Social Security benefits.